Unemployment among Saudis down to 12.8% in Q3 2018

The unemployment rate among Saudi Arabian citizens dropped to 12.8 percent quarter-on-quarter in Q3 2018, according to data from the Saudi General Authority for Statistics. 

The unemployment rate among Saudi males and females reached 7.5 percent and 30.9 percent, respectively.

Unemployment among all population in the Kingdom stood at 6.0 percent in the third quarter – unchanged compared to Q3 2017, with 3.3 percent among males and 19.9 percent among females.

At Q3 2018, a total of 12.69 million individuals were reported employed in the Kingdom. Men accounted for 84.1 percent, or 10.67 million, of total labour force, while women represented 15.9 percent, or 2.02 million of those employed.

About 9.58 million expats were employed, representing 75.5 percent of the total employed population, while nationals accounted for just 24.5 percent, or 3.11 million.

A total of 9.1 million workers, or 71.7 percent of total labor force are subject to the regulations of the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI), 9.6 percent are subject to the rules of the Civil Service, while 18.7 percent of total labor force represents domestic workers.