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Egypt Confirms Drop in Unemployment

An employee arranges freshly baked flatbread in front of a bakery in the downtown district of Cairo, on March 12, 2023. (AFP)
An employee arranges freshly baked flatbread in front of a bakery in the downtown district of Cairo, on March 12, 2023. (AFP)
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Egypt Confirms Drop in Unemployment

An employee arranges freshly baked flatbread in front of a bakery in the downtown district of Cairo, on March 12, 2023. (AFP)
An employee arranges freshly baked flatbread in front of a bakery in the downtown district of Cairo, on March 12, 2023. (AFP)

Egypt announced that unemployment rates dropped to the lowest in nearly 19 years, citing several international institutions that projected further job growth in the coming years.

The Cabinet Media Center published a report noting a positive change in the international view of the country's unemployment and employment levels.

The World Bank expected unemployment to continue to decline, reaching seven percent, by the year 2023/2024, noting that the impact of the initial shock of the coronavirus pandemic on unemployment has started to recede.

The report reviewed the quarterly unemployment rate in Egypt and stated that it is at its lowest level since 2004.

The unemployment rate reached 7.2 percent in the first, second, and fourth quarters of 2022, 7.4 percent during the third quarter, 7.4 percent in the first and fourth quarters of 2021, 7.3 percent in the second quarter, and 7.5 percent in the third quarter.

The center attributed the decline to state efforts in adopting a national strategy to confront unemployment. The strategy aims to achieve sustainable development plans and work through systematic foundations to address the needs of the labor market, qualify the working cadres and raise their efficiency and readiness.

It quoted the "Oxford Business Group" as saying that Egypt could benefit from its economic potential within the framework of generating considerable and sustainable social benefits, evident through the drop in unemployment rates.

The Group said Egypt needed to reduce unemployment, which reached 12.6 percent in 2016 and should focus on vocational training to prepare skilled workers.

The report reviewed the most important indicators of the labor market, with the labor force increasing by 9.4 percent, or 30.3 million individuals, in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to 27.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.

The number of workers increased by 17 percent, or 28.2 million individuals, in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to 24.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Unemployed individuals decreased by 38.9 percent, reaching 2.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to 3.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.

The report discussed the most important economic activities contributing to creating new job opportunities, reviewing the most important economic activities to which the most significant number of workers shifted during the fourth quarter of 2022.

Moreover, about 233,000 workers shifted to work in agriculture and forest exploitation, 126,000 to education, 66,000 to electricity and gas supply, and 62,000 changed their occupation to construction.

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Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
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Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)

Telecommunications companies listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) achieved a 12.46 percent growth in their net profits, which reached SAR 4.07 billion ($1.09 billion) during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.62 billion ($965 million) during the same period last year.

They also recorded a 4.76 percent growth in revenues during the same quarter, after achieving sales worth more than SAR 26.18 billion ($7 billion), compared to SAR 24.99 billion ($6.66 billion) in the same quarter of 2023.

The growth in the revenues and net profitability is the result of several factors, including the increase in sales volume and revenues, especially in the business sector and fifth generation services, as well as the decrease in operating expenses and the focus on improving operational efficiency, controlling costs, and moving towards investment in infrastructure.

The sector comprises four companies, three of which conclude their fiscal year in December: Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Mobily, and Zain Saudi Arabia. The fiscal year of Etihad Atheeb Telecommunications Company (GO) ends on March 31.

According to its financial results announced on Tadawul, Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily) achieved a 33 percent growth rate of profits, bringing its profits to SAR 661 million by the end of the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 497 million during the same period in 2023. The company also achieved a 4.59 percent growth in revenues to reach SAR 4.47 billion, compared to SAR 4.27 billion in the same quarter of last year.

The Saudi Telecom Company achieved the highest net profits among the sector’s companies, at about SAR 3.304 billion in the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.008 billion in the same quarter of 2023. The company registered a growth of 4.52 percent in revenues.

On the other hand, the revenues of the Saudi Mobile Telecommunications Company (Zain Saudi Arabia) increased by about 6.69 percent, as it recorded SAR 2.55 billion during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 2.39 billion in the same period last year.

Commenting on the quarterly results of the sector’s companies, and the varying net profits, the head of asset management at Rassanah Capital, Thamer Al-Saeed, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi Telecom Company remains the sector leader in terms of customer base expansion.

He also noted the continued efforts of Mobily and Zain to offer many diverse products and other services.

Financial advisor at the Arab Trader Mohammed Al-Maymouni said the financial results of telecom sector companies have maintained a steady growth, up to 12 percent, adding that Mobily witnessed strong progress compared to the rest of the companies, despite the great competition which affected its revenues.

He added that Zain was moving at a good pace and its revenues have improved during the second quarter of 2024. However, its profits were affected by an increase in the financing cost by SAR 26.5 million riyals and a rise in interest, while net income declined significantly compared to the previous year, during which the company made exceptional returns.