Unemployment among Saudis up to 7.8% (+0.7%) in Q3 2024: GASTAT

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The unemployment rate among Saudis increased to 7.8% in Q3 2024, up from 7.1% at the end of Q2 2024, according to the latest Labor Force Survey issued today, Dec. 31, by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

The unemployment rate among Saudi men was approximately 4.7%, while it stood at 13.6% for Saudi women. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for non-Saudis was recorded at 1.4%.

According to GASTAT's Labor Force Survey estimates, the overall unemployment rate for the working-age population increased to 3.7% in Q3 2024, up from 3.3% in Q2 2024.

The data revealed an increase in the labor force participation rate for Saudi men, reaching 66.9% in Q3 2024, up from Q2 2024.

GASTAT reported that the labor force participation rate for Saudi women also rose, reaching 36.2% in Q3 2024.

The Northern Borders Province recorded the highest overall unemployment rate among Saudi regions at 6.8%, while the Eastern Province and Riyadh had the lowest unemployment rates, at 2.5% and 2.6%, respectively.