Unemployment among Saudis falls to 10.1pc

RIYADH, July 03 (Arab News): Unemployment among Saudis fell to 10.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2022 from 11 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2021, according to official data.

This is the lowest level since the second quarter of 2016, according to data compiled by Arab News, based on figures released by the General Authority for Statistics, also known as GASTAT.

The rate of unemployment declined faster among Saudi women, dropping by 3.2 per centage points to 20.2 per cent. Over the same period, for Saudi men the indicator slipped just 0.1 per centage points to 5.1 per cent.

As for non-Saudis, the rate of unemployment fell 0.7 per centage points to 2.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2022.

The Kingdom's total rate of unemployment - including Saudis and non-Saudis - eased by 0.9 per centage points to 6.0 per cent in the first quarter of 2022.