RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s unemployment rate fell to 6.5 percent during the second quarter of 2026, compared to 6.8 percent in the same quarter of 2025. According to the data, released by the Saudi General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) on Wednesday, the Kingdom’s unemployment rate edged up slightly in the second quarter compared to the first quarter of this year, when it stood at 6.4 percent. According to the 2025 report, the index data was updated based on the 2024 population census data, which itself was based on the 2022 Saudi census, to provide a more accurate reading reflecting the progress achieved in job creation. The report stated that economic reforms contributed to the decline in the unemployment rate among Saudis. Policies aimed at localizing jobs and generating employment opportunities have had a significant impact, supported by strategic labor market initiatives and the Human Capital Development Program. These initiatives have helped narrow the gap between the skills of job seekers and those required by the labor market, while also supporting sector development and creating investment opportunities. As a result, the number of Saudis working in the private sector rose to more than 2.5 million by the end of 2025. Social reforms have also helped empower Saudi women in the workforce and create employment opportunities for them. This has positively affected the unemployment rate among Saudi women, which reached a record low of 10.3 percent. The decline was driven by numerous initiatives that facilitated access to workplaces, childcare programs, and other supportive initiatives in the workplace. It is noteworthy that the latest annual report on Saudi Vision 2030 showed that the unemployment rate, one of the indicators included in the Vision document, achieved its 2030 target of 7 percent ahead of schedule by the end of 2024.
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