Saudi Unemployment Falls to 3.1% in Q1 2026

Official labor market data for the first quarter of 2026 show that the overall unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia fell to 3.1%, down from 3.5% in the fourth quarter of 2025. The figure covers the total working-age population, including both Saudis and non-Saudis, and marks one of the lowest overall readings in recent years.

Among Saudi nationals, the jobless rate declined to 6.4% in the first quarter of 2026, compared with 7.2% in the previous quarter. Broken down by gender, unemployment among Saudi men stood at about 4.9%, while the rate for Saudi women was around 9.0%. Unemployment among non-Saudis remained low at roughly 1.5%.

A downward trend

The latest figure continues a gradual decline seen across recent quarters, following readings of 3.4% in the third quarter of 2025 and 3.5% in the fourth quarter. The steady drop points to sustained strength in the national labor market as employment opportunities expand.

The unemployment statistics are compiled and published by the General Authority for Statistics through its labor force and labor market bulletins, with quarterly updates released via national statistics portals. The first quarter of 2026 is the latest period currently available in these data.

For residents and job seekers across the Kingdom, the numbers reflect a broadening range of employment prospects for both citizens and expatriates. The continued fall in the Saudi female unemployment rate, in particular, signals rising participation of women in the workforce — a key theme in the country's ongoing economic diversification efforts.

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