Saudi Unemployment Rate Drops to 3% in Q2 2026

Saudi Arabia's overall unemployment rate declined to 3.0% in the second quarter of 2026, continuing a steady downward trend in the Kingdom's labour market. The figure covers both Saudi citizens and non-Saudi residents of working age.

The latest rate is down from 3.1% in the first quarter of 2026 and from 3.2% recorded in the second quarter of 2025, reflecting gradual improvement over the past year.

Among Saudi citizens specifically, the unemployment rate stood at 6.5% in the second quarter of 2026. That marked a slight increase from 6.4% in the previous quarter, but a clear decline from 6.8% in the same quarter of 2025.

Broken down by gender, unemployment among Saudi men reached 4.8%, while unemployment among Saudi women stood at 9.6% during the quarter.

Why it matters

Lower unemployment rates point to continued momentum in job creation and the broader efforts to expand opportunities for citizens in the labour market. For residents and expats across the Kingdom, the figures signal an active and evolving employment landscape, particularly as the country pursues wider economic diversification under رؤية السعودية 2030. The year-on-year drop in unemployment among Saudi citizens, especially, underscores steady progress in bringing more nationals into the workforce.

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