Saudi unemployment rate nears 13% in Q2

The unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia reached 12.8 percent in the second quarter of 2017, from 12.7 percent in Q1, according to the kingdom’s General Authority for Statistics.

About 33 percent of Saudi women are unemployed, while 7.4 percent of men are jobless, data showed.

As of Q2, a total of 13.84 million individuals were employed in the country. Men accounted for 85 percent, or 11.81 million, while 15 percent, or 2.03 million of those employed are women. About 10.79 million expats are employed in the Kingdom, representing 78 percent of the total employed population, while nationals accounted for just 22 percent, or 3.05 million.

Unemployment was highest within the 30-34 age bracket.

Most of those employed reside was in Riyadh and Makkah (around 6.8 million or 49 percent), of which 26 percent are nationals.