Saudi Unemployment Falls to 6.4% in Q1 2026

Unemployment among Saudi citizens fell to 6.4% in the first quarter of 2026, marking a fresh decline in the Kingdom's jobless figures. The rate dropped 0.8 percentage points compared with the final quarter of 2025.

The improvement was led by a notable drop in unemployment among Saudi women, which fell to 9% — down 1.3 percentage points from the previous quarter. Unemployment among Saudi men also eased, declining 0.7 points to 4.9%.

When counting both citizens and non-Saudi residents together, the overall unemployment rate for the total population stood at 3.1% during the same period.

Why it matters

The figures point to steady momentum in the labour market, with rising participation among women continuing to reshape the Kingdom's workforce. For residents and job seekers in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and beyond, the trend signals expanding employment opportunities across the economy.

The data comes from the Kingdom's official quarterly Labour Force Survey, which tracks employment and unemployment indicators and is published every three months. These are statistical indicators only and carry no fees or application processes.

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