Saudi Unemployment Falls to 6.4% in Q1 2026

Saudi Living reports that unemployment among Saudi citizens fell to 6.4% in the first quarter of 2026, an improvement from 7.2% recorded at the end of 2025. The latest labor-market figures point to steady gains across the Kingdom’s workforce.

When both Saudis and non-Saudis are counted, the overall unemployment rate stood at just 3.1% in the first quarter of the year. The overall labor force participation rate reached about 67.2%, comfortably above the 63% target set under Saudi Vision 2030 for 2030 — a goal already surpassed by mid-2025.

Gains for women, gap remains

Saudi women continue to enter the workforce in greater numbers than before, with female labor force participation at 33.9% in the first quarter of 2026 and an employment-to-population ratio of 30.8%. Unemployment among Saudi women stood at 9.0%, compared with 4.9% for Saudi men. While female participation remains below that of men, it is well above the levels recorded before Vision 2030 reforms.

Participation among Saudi nationals overall averaged about 49.5% in 2025, slightly lower than 51.1% in 2024.

For residents and job seekers, the figures matter because they reflect a labor market that is absorbing more citizens, including women. These are statistical indicators of the wider economy — not linked to any fees or steps in government service platforms — but they offer a useful gauge of hiring conditions and opportunity across Riyadh, Jeddah, and beyond.

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