Saudi Arabia's Unemployment Rate Declines To 2.8% In First Quarter Of 2025

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) reported that the unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia, including both Saudis and non-Saudis, was 2.8% during the first quarter of 2025. The overall labour force participation reached 68.2%, with a notable increase among Saudis to 51.3% compared to the last quarter of 2024.

Among Saudi males, the labour force participation rate rose to 66.4%, while their unemployment rate fell to 4%. This improvement highlights the effectiveness of policies aimed at enhancing employment opportunities in the country. For Saudi females, their participation rate increased to 36.3%, and their unemployment rate decreased to 10.5% from the previous quarter.

Efforts to empower women have significantly boosted their economic involvement, contributing to sustainable development and growth. The employment-to-population ratio for young Saudi women aged 15–24 climbed to 14.6%, with their labour force participation rising to 18.4%. These figures underscore the positive impact of initiatives supporting women's roles in the economy.

In contrast, young Saudi males in the same age group experienced a decrease in both employment-to-population ratio and labour force participation, which fell to 29.2% and 33%, respectively. However, their unemployment rate improved, dropping to 11.6% compared to Q4 of 2024.

The employment-to-population ratio for working-age Saudis (25–54 years) reached 65.9%, with a labour force participation rate of 69.6%. Their unemployment rate decreased to 5.4%. Among Saudis aged 55 and older, both unemployment and participation rates declined from the previous quarter.

The bulletin highlighted that Saudi Arabia's unemployment rate hit its lowest historical level at 6.3% in Q1 of 2025. Since 2021, Saudi women's unemployment has dropped by over 11 percentage points, now standing at 10.5%. This reflects the growing capacity of the Saudi labour market to offer economic opportunities supported by strong employment policies.

Job Search Methods

According to GASTAT, direct applications were the most common job search method used by job seekers at a rate of 75.8%. The national unified employment platform (Jadarat) was utilised by 74.6% of job seekers, while posting or updating CVs on business-related social media platforms was reported by 64.5%.

These outcomes demonstrate how improved labour market policies are enhancing Saudi Arabia's attractiveness as an employment hub with evolving performance metrics.

With inputs from SPA