عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Saudi Unemployment Rate Drops in Labor Market

General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) logo
General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) logo
TT
TT

Saudi Unemployment Rate Drops in Labor Market

General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) logo
General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) logo

The latest official data released on Thursday in Saudi Arabia revealed a drop in the unemployment rate in the Saudi workforce.

The unemployment rate of the total working age population (15+ Saudi and non-Saudi) fell from nine percent to 6.6 percent in the second quarter of 2021, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) estimates based on the Labor Force Survey (LFS).

Saudi Arabia’s citizen unemployment rate fell to 11.3 percent in the Q2 2021, as the economy continued to recover from the pandemic and the government intensified efforts to create jobs for nationals.

The rate compares to 11.7 percent in the first quarter. Saudi male unemployment declined to 6.1 percent in the period from March to June, from 7.2 percent in the first quarter, while female unemployment rose to 22.3 percent, from 21.2 percent, according to the data.

Saudi labor force participation fell slightly to 49.4 percent, suggesting that some citizens are dropping out of the job market.

Total labor force participation, for Saudis and non-Saudis, was 60.8 percent in the second quarter, down from 61.1 percent in the first three months of the year.

Saudi labor force participation fell slightly to 49.4 percent, data showed. The labor force participation rate of Saudi males dropped to 65.7 percent in the second quarter, compared to 66.2 percent in the first quarter.

The kingdom has recently launched the Human Capacity Development Program, under the auspices of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.

It is one of the programs aimed to attain Saudi Vision 2030, which represents a national strategy to enhance the competitiveness of national human capacities locally and globally.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

UN Launches Cairo Declaration to Address Hunger in Arab Region

Palestinian children wait for food at a distribution center in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinian children wait for food at a distribution center in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
TT
TT

UN Launches Cairo Declaration to Address Hunger in Arab Region

Palestinian children wait for food at a distribution center in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinian children wait for food at a distribution center in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Rising conflicts, inflation, and climate change have worsened the food crisis in the Arab region, reaching record levels in 2023, according to six UN agencies.

The crisis now affects over 14% of the population, with early signs showing an even greater escalation this year.

To address this, the six UN agencies issued the “Cairo Declaration on Financing Agrifood Systems Transformation in the Near East and North Africa Region” on Wednesday.

The six UN agencies reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with development banks, the private sector, and national governments to boost financial resources for transforming food and agricultural systems in the Arab region, aiming to improve food security and nutrition.

These agencies—FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, WHO, and ESCWA—also proposed creating cooperative funding platforms, led by governments and developed with partners, to help meet the second Sustainable Development Goal of ending hunger.

The “Cairo Declaration” was issued alongside a joint report titled the 2024 NENA Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition. The report warned that the Arab region is still far from reaching its food security and nutrition targets for 2030.

In 2023, 66.1 million people—14% of the Arab population—were affected by hunger. The report showed that around 186.5 million people (39.4% of the population) faced food insecurity, with 72.7 million suffering from severe food insecurity.

Conflicts remain the main cause of food insecurity and malnutrition in the region, compounded by economic challenges, income inequality, and extreme weather events.

Food prices have worsened the crisis, with malnutrition rates in conflict-affected countries jumping to 26.4% in 2023—four times higher than the 6.6% in stable countries. Ongoing conflicts and droughts are expected to further degrade food security and nutrition.

FAO’s Assistant Director-General and NENA Regional Representative Abdulhakim Elwaer emphasized the need for improved public resource use and additional funding to positively impact food systems in Arab countries.

The agencies stress that the report’s findings will drive efforts to create more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems in the region, benefiting both people and the planet.

Over a third of the Arab population struggles to afford healthy food, with 151.3 million people unable to cover basic nutritional needs. This issue is especially severe in conflict zones, where 41.2% of people can't afford a healthy diet.