Saudi Arabia’s overall unemployment rate reached 3.3 percent in the second quarter of 2024, marking a decrease of 0.2 percentage points compared to the first quarter of 2024 and an annual decline of 0.8 percentage points.
The latest data from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) reveals that unemployment among Saudi Arabia’s nationals reached 7.1 percent in Q2, down 0.5 percentage points quarter-on-quarter and 1.4 percentage points year-on-year.
Despite the decline in unemployment among Saudis, their rate of participation in the labor force declined by 0.6 percent to 50.8 percent. However, participation saw a slight annual increase of 0.1 percentage points compared to the second quarter of 2023.
The statistics agency also revealed that the employment-to-population ratio for Saudis declined by 0.3 percentage points compared to the first quarter of 2024, standing at 47.2 percent. However, it increased by 0.8 percentage points annually compared to the second quarter of 2023.
Saudi female unemployment declines
During the second quarter of 2024, Saudi Arabia witnessed an increase in the employment-to-population ratio for Saudi females by 0.1 percentage points, reaching 30.8 percent. However, the Saudi female participation rate decreased by 0.4 percentage points to 35.4 percent.
In addition, the unemployment rate among Saudi Arabia’s females decreased by 1.4 percentage points to 12.8 percent, compared to the previous quarter of 2024.
Saudi male labor force participation declines
Regarding Saudi males, the employment-to-population ratio remained unchanged at the level of 63.6 percent. The labor force participation rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points, reaching 66.3 percent. However, the unemployment rate among Saudi Arabia’s males decreased by 0.2 percentage points reaching 4.0 percent compared to the previous quarter of 2024.
Unemployment declines among Saudi core working age group
Labor market indicators for Saudi Arabia’s population (both males and females) in the core working age group (25-54 years) during the second quarter of 2024 showed a 0.1 percentage point decrease in the employment-to-population ratio, reaching 64.5 percent, and a 0.7 percentage point decrease in the labor force participation rate, reaching 68.7 percent. In addition, the group’s unemployment rate decreased by 6.2 percent compared to the previous quarter of 2024.
Most popular job search methods
Saudi job seekers use a variety of methods to look for jobs, with an average of five active methods per job seeker. Asking friends or relatives about job opportunities was the most commonly used job search method recording 89.7 percent, followed by directly applying to employers at 78.1 percent, and the use of the national unified employment platform (Jadarat) at 69.0 percent.
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