Unemployment rate for Saudis and total population decreases in Q2 of 2022 by 9.7% and 5.8% respectively

Based on the estimates of the General Authority for Statistics’ Labour Force Survey, the unemployment rate of Saudis reached 9.7% in Q2 of 2022, a decrease of 0.4 percentage points (pp) compared to Q1/2022. The labour force participation rate of Saudis increased by 1.7 pp reaching to 51.8%, and the employment-to-population ratio of Saudis increased by 1.7 pp reaching to 46.8% compared to the last year. Key labour market indicators for Saudis improved, where the participation rate recorded 2.4 pp, the employment-to-population ratio went up to 3.0 pp, and the unemployment rate went down to 1.6 pp.
Overall unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia (for Saudis and non-Saudis) recorded 5.8%, dropped to 0.2 pp compared to Q1/2021, with a decrease of 0.8 ppm compared to Q2 of 2021 Labour market conditions improve among both Saudi male and female Among Saudi males, the unemployment rate decreased reaching at 4.7%, dropped down to 0.3 pp from Q1 of 2022, and down to 1.4 pp compared to the last year Q2/2021.
The decrease in the unemployment rate of Saudi males this quarter coincided with both an expansion of labour market participation and employment growth, where the participation rate went up by 1.5pp to 67.5% and the employment-to-population ratio increased by 1.6 pp reaching to 64.3%.
Among Saudi female, all three key labour market indicators also improved in Q2/2022. The unemployment rate, at 19.3%, was down to 0.9 pp from Q1/2022 recording 3.0 pp compared to the last year.
In Q2/2022, the decrease in the unemployment rate was accompanied by an expansion of labour force participation and growth in employment. The participation rate rose up by 1.9 pp reaching to 35.6%, and the employment-to-population ratio rose by 1.9 pp reaching 28.7%.

Labour market conditions improve among workers for those of core working age (25-54 years

Labour market condition Improved in Q2 of 2022 among Saudi males and females for those of core working age (25-54 years). Among this group, compared to the previous quarter, the unemployment rate fell to 1.0 pp recording 9.0%, the participation rate rose up by 0.9 pp reaching 67.7%, and the employment-to-population ratio increased by 1.5 pp reaching 61.6%.
Among Saudi youth aged (15-24), the unemployment rate increased in Q2 of 2022, but this was the result of a significant increase in labour force participation, outpacing employment growth. The participation rate increased by 3.5 pp recording 29.2%, the employment-to-population ratio rose by 2.3 pp reaching to 24.1%, and the unemployment rate was up to 2.5 pp recording 17.6%.
For Saudis aged 55 years and over, labour market rates showed minor change in Q2 of 2022, compared to the previous quarter.
Active job search methods used by Saudi Unemployed
Saudi job seekers used a variety of active job search methods, with an average of four active methods per job seeker. The most frequently used active job search methods is asking friends or relatives (75.3%), applying directly to employers recorded (56.0%), and using TAQAT platform for different purposes (47.6%). Two other government platforms (Jadarah and Saad) were used by 41.7% and 7.5% of Saudi job seekers, respectively. Another widely used active job search method includes studying advertisements in newspapers, magazines or online with a percentage of (50.7%).
Limited mobility of unemployed Saudis
93.8% of unemployed Saudis would accept employment in private sector. Results of the survey showed that 60.8% of unemployed Saudi females and 43.3% of unemployed Saudi males accept a
commuting time to work for a maximum one hour. Similarly, 72.5% of unemployed Saudi females and 90.5% of unemployed Saudi males indicated that they would accept work for eight hours or more per day.