Statistics Authority: unemployment rate for Saudis decreased ‎to 9.9% in Q3 ‎

The General Authority for Statistics revealed that the unemployment rate for Saudis amounted to 9.9% in the third quarter of 2022, a decrease of 1.4 percentage points from the same quarter of 2021, in which it was 11.3%, and an increase of 2.0 percentage points compared to the second quarter of 2022.

The authority stated that the rate of participation of Saudis in the labor force increased by 0.7 percentage points to reach 52.5%, and the rate of employees to the population for Saudis increased by 0.5 percentage points, reaching 47.3%, compared to the previous quarter.

With regard to the annual changes of the main labor market indicators for Saudis, the unemployment rate decreased by 1.4 percentage points, while the rate of participation in the labor force increased by 2.7 percentage points, and the rate of the employed to the population increased by an increase of 3.1 percentage points, and the unemployment rate for the total population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Saudis and non-Saudis reached 5.8% in the third quarter of 2022 AD, without A change from the previous quarter, while the unemployment rate decreased by 0.8 percentage points compared to last year.

High participation rate in the labor force for Saudi women

In the third quarter of 2022, the unemployment rate among Saudi women increased to 20.5%, an increase of 1.2 percentage points compared to the previous quarter, while it decreased by 1.4 percentage points compared to last year. On the other hand, the rate of participation in the labor force for Saudi women recorded a growth that exceeded the growth in the ratio of workers to the population. The rate of participation in the labor force for Saudi women increased by 1.4 percentage points to 37%, while the rate of employed Saudi women to the population increased by 0.7 percentage points and reached 29.4%.

With regard to Saudi males, the unemployment rate reached 4.3%, a decrease of 0.4 percentage points compared to the previous quarter, and a decrease of 1.6 percentage points compared to the previous year.

The high participation rate in the labor force and the ratio of the employed to the population for Saudi women in the youth age and the primary work age

In the third quarter of 2022, the results related to the indicators of Saudi women in the youth age 15-24 years showed an increase in the labor force participation rate by 1.4 percentage points, reaching 20.2%, and it also showed an increase in the rate of workers to the population by 1.5 points, to reach 14.6 The unemployment rate among young Saudi women decreased by 2.6 percentage points, reaching 27.9%.

On the other hand, indicators of young Saudi males witnessed a decrease in the unemployment rate, the participation rate in the labor force, and the ratio of the employed to the population. %.

The authority stated that the ratio of the employed to the population decreased by 0.8 percentage points, reaching 33.5%, and in the third quarter of 2022, the unemployment rate increased among the Saudi population (males and females) of the basic working age (who range between the ages of 25 and 54). In contrast, the rate of participation in the labor force for Saudis of the primary working age recorded a growth that exceeded the growth in the ratio of the employed to the population, as the rate of participation in the labor force increased by 1.3 percentage point to reach 69%

While the ratio of Saudi workers to the population increased by 0.9 percentage points, reaching 62.5%.

As for Saudis aged 55 years and over, the labor market indicators showed a slight change in the third quarter of 2022 AD, compared to the previous quarter.

Active methods of job search for the unemployed Saudis

The General Authority for Statistics indicated that the unemployed Saudis used a variety of active job search methods, with an average of 4.3 active methods for each job seeker. The method of asking friends or relatives about employment opportunities was the most widely used job search method with a rate of 75.2%, and applying directly to employers reached a rate of 57.3%, followed by studying advertisements in newspapers, magazines or on the Internet with a rate of 57.3%.

Limited movement of unemployed Saudis

93.3% of unemployed Saudis indicated that they would accept work in the private sector. The results of the survey showed that 58.4% of unemployed Saudi women and 42.6% of unemployed Saudi males accept commuting to work within one hour at most. Also, 73.7% of unemployed Saudi women and 90.3% of unemployed Saudi males indicated that they would accept work for eight hours or more per day.