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Saudi Unemployment Rate Approaches 2030 Target

An employment gathering at the Chamber of Commerce in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
An employment gathering at the Chamber of Commerce in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Unemployment Rate Approaches 2030 Target

An employment gathering at the Chamber of Commerce in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
An employment gathering at the Chamber of Commerce in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The unemployment rate among Saudis has reached a historic low of 7.1% in the second quarter of this year, close to the Saudi Vision 2030 target of 7%. This decline highlights the success of government initiatives aimed at making the job market more appealing to local job seekers.

According to data from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) on Monday, the unemployment rate dropped by 0.5 percentage points from 7.6% in the first quarter of this year and fell by about 1.4 percentage points compared to the same quarter in 2023.

Efforts by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development to support women have resulted in a significant drop in the unemployment rate among Saudi women.

Moreover, in the second quarter of this year, the Human Resources Development Fund allocated over SAR 1.65 billion to boost employment and encourage Saudis to join the local workforce.

GASTAT said Saudi Arabia’s overall unemployment rate, including citizens and non-citizens, fell to 3.3% in the second quarter of 2024, down from 3.5% in the first quarter.

The decline improves the Kingdom’s ranking to fifth among G20 countries with the lowest unemployment rates, as noted by the International Labor Organization in April.

There are now over 2.3 million Saudi workers in the private sector, contributing to a total of more than 11.4 million private sector workers in the Kingdom, the highest number recorded.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, which aims to diversify the economy and reduce its reliance on oil, has included several reforms to stimulate job creation.

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China Mulls Draft Law to Promote Private Sector Development

A Chinese national flag flutters on a financial street in Beijing. (Reuters)
A Chinese national flag flutters on a financial street in Beijing. (Reuters)
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China Mulls Draft Law to Promote Private Sector Development

A Chinese national flag flutters on a financial street in Beijing. (Reuters)
A Chinese national flag flutters on a financial street in Beijing. (Reuters)

Chinese lawmakers are deliberating a draft of the country's first basic law specifically focused on the development of the private sector, the country’s Xinhua news agency reported.

“The law will be conducive to creating a law-based environment that is favorable to the growth of all economic sectors, including the private sector,” said Justice Minister He Rong, while explaining the draft on Saturday during the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the national legislature.

The draft private sector promotion law covers areas such as fair competition, investment and financing environments, scientific and technological innovation, regulatory guidance, service support, rights and interests protection and legal liabilities.

The draft has incorporated suggestions solicited from representatives of the private sector, experts, scholars and the general public, the minister said.

China left its benchmark lending rates unchanged as expected at the monthly fixing on Friday.

Persistent deflationary pressure and tepid credit demand call for more stimulus to aid the broad economy, but narrowing interest margin on the back of fast falling yields and a weakening yuan limit the scope for immediate monetary easing.

The one-year loan prime rate (LPR) was kept at 3.10%, while the five-year LPR was unchanged at 3.60%.

In a Reuters poll of 27 market participants conducted this week, all respondents expected both rates to stay unchanged.

Morgan Stanley said in a note that the 2025 budget deficit and mix are more positive than expected and suggest Beijing is willing to set a high growth target and record fiscal budget to boost market confidence, but further policy details are unlikely before March.

Last Friday, data released by the country's central bank said total assets of China's financial institutions had risen to 489.15 trillion yuan (about $68.03 trillion) by the end of third quarter this year.

The figure represented a year-on-year increase of 8%, said the People's Bank of China.

Of the total, the assets of the banking sector reached 439.52 trillion yuan, up 7.3% year on year, while the assets of securities institutions rose 8.7% year on year to 14.64 trillion yuan.

The insurance sector's assets jumped 18.3% year on year to 35 trillion yuan, the data showed.

The liabilities of the financial institutions totaled 446.51 trillion yuan, up 8% year on year, according to the central bank.

Separately, data released by the National Energy Administration on Thursday showed that China's electricity consumption, a key barometer of economic activity, rose by 7.1% year on year in the first 11months of the year.

During the period, power consumption of the country's primary industries increased by 6.8% year on year, while that of its secondary and tertiary sectors rose by 5.3% and 10.4%, respectively.

Residential power usage saw strong growth of 11.6% during this period, the administration said.

In November alone, power usage climbed 2.8% from one year earlier, according to the data.