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The General Authority for Statistics released its labor force survey for the second quarter of 2026 on September 30, detailing movements in employment across Saudi and non-Saudi populations. Saudi national unemployment stood at 6.5 percent, an increase of 0.1 percentage points from the first quarter but a decrease of 0.3 percentage points from the second quarter of 2025. This contributed to an overall unemployment rate of 3 percent, which fell 0.1 points from the prior quarter and 0.2 points year-on-year, GASTAT said.
Unemployment among Saudi males reached 4.8 percent while the rate for Saudi females stood at 9.6 percent, up 0.6 points from the first quarter, according to the authority’s assessment. The overall labor force participation rate held at 67.2 percent, unchanged from the previous quarter but 1 percentage point higher than a year earlier. For Saudi nationals specifically, the participation rate fell to 48.7 percent.
GASTAT figures show the employment-to-population ratio for Saudis declined to 45.5 percent, down 0.3 points quarter-on-quarter and 0.4 points year-on-year. The authority conducts the labor force survey using a sample of households to estimate these key indicators on a quarterly basis. Data collection covers citizens and residents in the working-age population of 15 years and above.
Arab News reported, citing GASTAT trends, that Saudi Arabia has achieved its Vision 2030 target of 7 percent unemployment for Saudis and is now aiming for 5 percent by the end of the decade. Labor market reforms under the program have prioritized raising female workforce participation and localizing jobs in various sectors. The latest readings form part of ongoing quarterly updates that have documented steady progress in recent years.
Historical GASTAT data reveals the overall unemployment rate has declined from a peak of 9 percent in the second quarter of 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current 3 percent overall rate represents one of the lower levels recorded in recent years. Additional details from the survey highlight variations across different age groups and regions, though aggregate figures dominate the initial release.
