Participation and Employment Rates Rise for Saudi Youth and Core Working Age

In the first quarter of 2024, female Saudi youth aged 15-24 experienced a 0.3 percentage point increase in the employment-to-population ratio, reaching 13.5%.

Additionally, the labour force participation rate increased by 0.7 percentage points to 17.6%. However, the unemployment rate increased by 0.9 percentage points to 23.0% compared to the previous quarter in 2023.

On the other hand, male Saudi youth saw a 1.9 percentage point increase in the employment-to-population ratio, reaching 30.3%, and a 1.3 percentage point increase in the labour force participation rate, reaching 34.3%. Conversely, the unemployment rate decreased by 2.4 percentage points to 11.6% compared to the previous quarter in 2023.

Labor market indicators for the Saudi population (both males and females) in the prime working age group (25-54 years) during the first quarter of 2024 showed a 0.8 percentage point increase in the employment-to-population ratio, reaching 64.6%, and a 1.0 percentage point increase in the labor force participation rate, reaching 69.4%. The unemployment rate remained stable at 6.8% compared to the previous quarter in 2023.

For Saudis aged 55 and above, the first quarter of 2024 indicated an increase in the employment-to-population ratio, an increase in the labor force participation rate, and a decrease in the unemployment rate compared to the previous quarter in 2023.

Saudi job seekers use a variety of active job search methods, with an average of 5.0 active methods per job seeker. The method of asking friends or relatives about job opportunities was the most commonly used, recording 87.5%, followed by directly applying to employers at 77.3%, and using the national unified employment platform (Jadarat) at 65.1%.

Additional indicators for unemployed Saudis showed that 95.9% are willing to accept job offers in the private sector. Furthermore, 62.5% of unemployed Saudi females and 45.8% of unemployed Saudi males are willing to commute to work for at least one hour. Additionally, 81.0% of unemployed Saudi females and 92.1% of unemployed Saudi males indicated they are willing to work for eight hours or more per day.