31.03.202606:44:02UTC+00Saudi Arabia Jobless Rate Rises to 3.5% in Q4

Saudi Arabia’s unemployment rate edged up to 3.5% in the fourth quarter of 2025, from 3.4% in the previous quarter. The jobless rate among Saudi nationals stood at 7.2%, compared with 1.7% for non-Saudis. By gender, unemployment among women eased to 8.2% from 9.4% in the second quarter, while the rate for men increased to 2.5% from 2.2%.

The labor force participation rate slipped to 67.4% from 66.9%, while the employment-to-population ratio rose to 65.0% from 64.6%.

Survey data indicate strong openness among unemployed Saudis to private sector opportunities: 95.9% said they are willing to accept job offers in the private sector. The survey also highlights notable flexibility in work arrangements, with about 63.8% of unemployed women and 46.2% of unemployed men prepared to travel an hour or more for a job. Regarding working hours, 67.8% of unemployed Saudi women are willing to work at least eight hours a day, a share that rises to 83.0% among unemployed men.