News Center- General Authority for Statistics of Saudi Arabia releases the unemployment rate every three months. Saudi Arabia's unemployment rate decreased to 11.7 percent in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 12.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020. Male unemployment increased slightly to 7.2%, while the unemployment rate among women fell to 21.2%, according to the statistics center. Labor force participation for citizens also fell, from 51.2% in the fourth quarter to 49.5% in the first three months of the year.

Female unemployment rate is decreasing

In the fourth quarter of 2020, the female unemployment rate was 20.2%, this rate decreased to 16.1% in the first quarter of 2021. The female unemployment rate fell to 21.2% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 24.4% in the first quarter of 2020.

Women’s participation in the labor force increased

The rate of women’s participation in the labor force increased to 33.6 percent in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 32.1% in the fourth quarter of 2020. However, labor force participation for citizens fell from 51.2% in the fourth quarter to 49.5% in the first three months of the year. Labor force participation for men is 66.2% while this rate is 32.3% for women.