The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) issued today the Labor Market Publication for Q4 of 2023. According to the results of this publication, the total unemployment rate (for Saudis and non-Saudis) decreased to 4.4% from Q3, 2023 by 0.7 percentage points, where it was 5.1%. The unemployment rate for Saudis also decreased to 7.7% in Q4 of 2023 compared to 8.6% in Q3, 2023. Additionally, the unemployment rate for Saudi females during Q4 of 2023 decreased to 13.7% compared to 16.3% in the previous quarter, while the unemployment rate for Saudi males remained stable at 4.6% in Q4 of 2023.

During the fourth quarter of 2023, the labor force indicators showed a decline in the total participation rate in labor force (for Saudis and non-Saudis) compared to Q3, 2023, reaching 60.4%. Moreover, the participation rate in labor force for Saudis dropped to 51.3%, compared to the previous quarter.

The results of the Labor Market Publication also indicated a decrease in the participation rate in labor force for Saudi females during Q4 of 2023, with 35.5% compared to the previous quarter. However, the participation rate in labor force for Saudi males in Q4 of 2023 decreased to 66.6% compared to 66.8% in the previous quarter.

It is worth mentioning that the Labor Market Publication bases its results on a household survey conducted by GASTAT falling under the social statistics. Data is collected through a representative sample of population from various administrative regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, by completing an electronic questionnaire containing several questions. This process provides estimates and indicators related to the labor force of population in the working age group (15 years and above) residing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, estimating the population (inside and outside the labor force), and calculating key labor market indicators such as the unemployment rate, labor force participation rate, and others.