Saudi Labor Force Participation Rises Across Core Working Age Groups in Q3 2024

In the second quarter of 2024, Saudi female youth aged 15–24 recorded a 1.0 percentage point increase in the labor force participation rate, reaching 18.0%. The employment-to-population ratio for this group also rose by 0.6 percentage points to 13.6%. However, the unemployment rate climbed by 0.9 percentage points to 24.5% compared to the previous quarter.
For Saudi male youth in the same age group, the labor force participation rate increased by 1.1 percentage points, reaching 34.6%. The employment-to-population ratio remained unchanged at 29.7%, while the unemployment rate rose by 2.6 percentage points to 14.0%.
Among the core working age group (25–54 years) in the third quarter of 2024, the labor force participation rate for Saudi males and females combined grew by 0.7 percentage points to 69.4%. The employment-to-population ratio increased by 0.3 percentage points, reaching 64.8%, while the unemployment rate rose to 6.7% from the previous quarter.
For Saudis aged 55 and above, labor market indicators for the third quarter of 2024 also showed gains, with increased participation across the board.