Saudi unemployment falls to record low of 6.3% in Q1 2025

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Saudi Arabia’s unemployment rate among nationals dropped to a record low of 6.3% in the first quarter of 2025, down from 7% at the end of Q4 2024, according to the Labor Force Survey released by the General Authority for Statistics.

This marks the lowest level ever recorded, surpassing the Vision 2030 target of bringing unemployment down to 7%.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) is aiming to lower the rate further to a new target of 5%.

The unemployment rate among Saudi men stood at approximately 4%, while it reached at 10.5% for Saudi women. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for non-Saudis was recorded at 0.8%.

According to GASTAT's Labor Force Survey, the overall unemployment rate for the working-age population hit 2.8% in Q1 2025, compared to 3.5% in Q4 2024.

The data revealed an increase in the labor force participation rate for Saudi men, reaching 66.4% in Q1 2025.

GASTAT reported that the labor force participation rate for Saudi women also rose, reaching 36.3% in Q1 2025.

The Northern Borders Province recorded the highest overall unemployment rate among Saudi regions at 5.1%, while Riyadh and the Eastern Province had the lowest unemployment rates, at 1.4% and 1.9%, respectively.