A decline in the numbers of non-Saudi workers by more than 234 thousand during Quarter 1, 2018 GASTAT: Saudis economic participation rate increased, total population unemployment rate is (6.1%), and Saudis unemployment rate is (12.9%) The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) published on its official website www.stats.gov.sa  the Labor Market Bulletin for the first quarter of 2018, which provides comprehensive data and indicators on the labor market in Saudi Arabia from the estimates of the labor force survey conducted by GASTAT quarterly, in addition to the labor market data from the administrative records of some relevant entities (Ministry of Labor and Social Development, Ministry of Civil Service, General Organization for Social Insurance, Human Resources Development Fund and National Information Center). The results of the bulletin for the first quarter of 2018 indicated that the total number of workers from the data of administrative records in Saudi Arabia (Q1, 2018) reached (13,333,513) individuals, compared to (13,581,141) individuals in Q4, 2017. However, the first quarter of 2018 witnessed a decrease in the numbers of non-Saudi workers by (234,191) individuals compared to the fourth quarter of 2017, as they registered (10,183,104) individuals in Q1, 2018 compared to (10,417,295) in Q4, 2017. On the other hand, the numbers of Saudi workers registered (3,150,409) individuals.  As for the rate of population’s economic participation (15 years and older), it recorded (55.5%) in Q1, 2018 compared to (55.6%) in Q4, 2017. However, the economic participation rate of Saudis increased by (41.89%) compared to (41.86%) in the previous quarter. Saudi males’ economic participation (15 years and older) increased by (63.5%) compared to (63.4%) in the previous quarter, whereas Saudi females’ economic participation (15 years and older) increased by (19.5%) compared to (19.4%) last quarter.  The results also showed that the rate of population’s unemployment (15 years and older) reached (6.1%) during the first quarter of 2018 compared to (6.0%) in Q4, 2017. Saudis unemployment rate (15 years and older) registered (12.9%) in the first quarter of 2018, but the Saudi females’ unemployment rate has decreased during this quarter registering (30.9%) compared to (31.10%) in Q4, 2017. In contrast, Saudi males’ unemployment rate registered an increase with (7.6%) compared to (7.5%) in Q4, 2017.    In addition, the total number of Saudi jobseekers from the estimates of administrative records (Jadarah, Sa’ed, and Hafiz programs) reached (1,072,162) individuals during the first quarter of 2018 compared to (1,086,561) individuals with a decline by (14,399) individuals from last quarter. Saudi male job seekers recorded (16.1%), while female jobseekers recorded (83.9%).  The bulletin included a large number of detailed data on workers according to the regulations they are subject to, and according to the nationality, gender, age, administrative region and educational level, as well as data on job seekers, average monthly wage, working hours and domestic workers. On the other hand, GASTAT spokesman Mr. Taiseer Almofarrej, clarified that there is a difference between job seekers and unemployed. The "unemployed" according to the Labor Force Survey are the individuals (15 years and older) who were jobless during the period of the time reference (the survey period): the previous week of the household visit and have been looking for a job seriously during the four weeks prior to the household visit (they have at least taken one way to look for a job). This includes those who did not search for work during the four weeks prior to the household visit because they were waiting for a job or starting their own business in the coming period, where they had already been looking for work before the time reference period and at the same time they were able to work and were ready to join it (If available), during the week preceding the household visit. Additionally, the definition of job seekers is the Saudi individuals (males or females) enrolled in the job search programs of the Ministry of Civil Service (Jadarah or Sa’ed) and the Human Resources Development Fund (Hafiz). And they register their personal data, qualifications, practical experiences and CVs through an electronic system. It is worth to mention that job seekers in the administrative records are not subject to the internationally recognized standards and conditions of unemployment approved by the ILO and therefore are not considered to be unemployed. Hence, not every job seeker is considered unemployed, s/he may be looking for work and is working in another job, this is the case in job seekers in government entities who are working, for example, in the private sector.

Targeting more than 35,000 households and 53,000 Establishments The General Authority for Statistics is conducting 5 field statistical works next week The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has invited all citizens and residents, as individuals or in corporations, to cooperate with the statisticians working in the field in various regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who their statistical work will start next Tuesday Shawwal 26th,1439AH (July 10th, 2018). GASTAT asserted that all information and data given by citizens, residents and corporations is confidential and will be treated as an information basis which is reliable and can be used by development decision-makers in all relevant government entities that will serve the interest of citizens and residents.  GASTAT spokesman, Mr. Taiseer Almofarrej said that more than (1600) statisticians are conducting 5 social and economic statistical surveys during this period until Dhu Al-Qidah 20th, 1439 AH (August 2nd, 2018).  These statistical works are targeting more than 35,000 households and 53,000 establishments in all (13) administrative regions. He mentioned that the field surveys of the economic indicators are used by the decision makers who are involved in the unemployment issue and increasing the employment in the internal trade activity. In addition, the recent statistical data contribute to the knowledge of the volume of internal trade activity and the measurement of its contribution to GDP. He pointed out that the Labor Force Survey helps to extract real indicators and data on unemployment, workers and the economic participation in the Kingdom, as well as data on labor force for the population (15 years old and above). This survey is one of the household field surveys based on a sample, conducted by GASTAT in the field of social statistics. He added that these data are important in terms of giving a picture of the size of the labor force among the working age population of male and female, active and economically inactive.  Mr. Almofarrej mentioned that the field surveys that will be conducted by GASTAT next week by statisticians who are holding official ID cards includes: Industrial Production Survey (3rd quarter, 2018), Economic Indicators Survey (3rd quarter, 2018), Internal Trade Activity Survey (3rd quarter, 2018), Construction Activity Survey 2018, and Tourism Survey 2018.

GASTAT releases the labour market bulletin (first quarter, 2018) next Thursday in a press conference The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) will hold a press conference next Thursday Shawwal 21, 1439H corresponding July 5, 2018 in its head office in Riyadh. In this conference, GASTAT will announce the labor market bulletin results for the first quarter of 2018. GASTAT spokesman, Mr. Taiseer Almoffarej said that we will announce the population’s total unemployment rate, Saudis’ unemployment rate, and the labor force data of quarter 1, 2018.  In addition, the labor market bulletin’s statistical methodology will be explained to all media representatives who are considered essential partners in   spreading the statistical data for the remarkable role of media channels in raising statistical awareness among society. Almofarrej mentioned that GASTAT worked hard to make sure that the bulletin is thorough and includes all data and information needed by GASTAT clients while presenting them in a clear and transparent way which is an important standard of the statistical work. It is worth mentioning that the labor market bulletin, which is published by GASTAT quarterly, includes the data of labor force, employed and unemployed persons, economic participation and unemployment rate, and job seekers numbers. These data are taken from the administrative records of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, General Institution of Social Insurances, Human Recourses Fund, and National Information Center.

Organized by the Excellence Awards Academy at the level of the Arab region GaStat Wins the Arab Government Achievements Award (2018) for the “Interactive map of the Services Guide” The General Authority for Statistics (GaStat) won the Arab Government Achievements award for the “Interactive map of the Services Guide” launched recently through GaStat’s official website. On Tuesday 13/10/1439H., the Excellence Awards Academy in U.A.E, the organizer of the “Afkar” Award for Excellence in Government Innovation for the year 2018 at the level of Arab region, announced selecting the Interactive Map for the Services Guide issued by GaStat, within the top seven excellent services in the region among more than 47 services nominated to win the award.  The Interactive Map of the Services Guide is a technical tool provided by GaStat to view the services’ statistics guide for the Kingdom’s cities and villages. It is the unified reference of all government and private entities available services in different regions of the Kingdom, at the level of cities and villages in the 13 administrative regions. It includes data and information of 16,263 localities (village-city). It includes geographical information and data, Health and education services, data on the availability of administrative, social and agricultural services and public services. The total number of the main tables and its sections included in the guide is (5810) detailed table. The guide, which was prepared by the contribution of 27 government entities, is one of the most important statistical resources for all data of the Kingdoms’ cities and villages. It is issued by GaStat every 3 years in order to provide unified data and information with official documentation and a high degree of accuracy for all services available in the cities and villages of the Kingdom so that these data are a unified reference for all ministries, government agencies and institutions, students and researchers, and media. The Interactive map of the Services Guide provides the main data for planners, policy and decision makers according to the localities in the administrative regions. A user can perform a search by selecting the locality that has a specific service in a specific search circle, or selecting the nearest locality on the map. It also provides the possibility of displaying the distribution of services according to the type of service or administrative regions. The service also includes a “Services calculator” which is a statistical tool to conduct statistical calculations based on the databases. The results can be viewed on the map to understand the geospatial distribution of any search, and the results can be extracted on Excel file. The guide contains geographical data and information at the level of the locality (city, village) in addition to the available private and government education services (all three levels and Qura’an schools (boys and girls)), and services of university education, technical education, agricultural education, health education, scientific, professional and commercial institutes, disabled educational institutes, schools of adult education and literacy and kindergartens. Health services including hospitals, primary health care centers, government and private clinics, Saudi Red Crescent services, data of administrative centers (governorate, center), police and civil defense centers, civil affairs, passports agency, endowments, labor offices, the centres of the General Presidency of the promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vices, courts, municipalities Social security offices, social development centers, directorates and branches of the Ministry of Agriculture, branches and offices of agricultural development funds, real estate development, industrial development, , And branches of ministries and agencies as well as public services, including electricity, water, telecommunications, postal services, telegraph offices, tourism, travel and banking services.

In Order to Benefit from the Best Statistical Practices to Improve the Statistical Sector Saudi Arabia Participates in the International Conference “Big Data for European Statistics” in Bulgaria    Deputy Chairman of Statistical Innovation and Client Services, Dr.Mohmmad AL-Ahmad represented the General Authority for Statistics (GaStat) in the international conference “Big Data for European Statistics” that was held between 14-15 May 2018 in Sofia, Bulgaria.  Dr.AL-Ahmad clarified that the conference discussed the results of the ESSnet Big Data project; a network project of 22 partners from 20 European countries and it is financed by Eurostat. The project aimed at integrating big data of official statistics through sharing expertise of big data possible sources and creating an implementation plan. He added that the project started in February 2016 for 28 months until May 2018 and it consists of 10 workgroups: (WP1 to WP8) are for the content, (WP10) is for the coordination and (WP9) is for the entire project. GaStat accepted the invitation of ESSnet Big Data project in order to learn more about the European countries’ experiences in this field, and to benefit from these practices to serve GaStat’s plans of using big data for producing new statistical indicators in Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, the participants visited the National Statistics Institute NSI in Bulgaria and met Mr. Sergey Tsvetarsky NSI president to view the institute’s activities and statistical works.  GaStat participation in this conference comes within its strategic plans to build international partnership between the Kingdom and a number of distinguished countries in this field, also to benefit from the best international statistical expertise and practices in order to improve the statistical sector in the Kingdom.

(53.6%) Perfom Umrah in Ramadan GASTAT: More Than 19M  Umrah Performers in 2017 On Tuesday Ramadan 13, 1439H corresponding May 29, 2018, The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released the report of Umrah statistics bulletin (2017). It is implemented for the second time by GASTAT as one of the new products associated with the Saudi vision 2030. The report contains many Umrah-related indicators and results which have been taken from the Umrah survey (domestic Umrah performers), and the registered data that pertains to the ministry of Hajj and Umrah (foreign Umrah performers). Through this bulletin, GASTAT and its related governmental partners want to create a database for all domestic and foreign Umrah performers to support decision and policy makers in term of the services provided to Umrah performers. According to the results of Umrah statistics bulletin 2017, the total number of Umrah performers reached (19.079.306) performers, (6.532.074) of whom came from outside Saudi Arabia as showed in the registered data of the ministry of Hajj and Umrah. On the other hand, the total number of domestic Umrah performers (Saudis and non-Saudis) hit (12.547.232) performers according to the results of Umrah survey conducted by GASTAT. The percentage of Saudi Umrah performers who came from inside Saudi Arabia is (46.9%), whereas non-Saudis who came from inside Saudi Arabia recorded (53.1%). However, the percentage of male domestic Umrah performers registered (64.3%), while females percentage registered (35.7%). The bulletin results also showed that Ramadan is considered a top season during which Umrah is performed by people from inside Saudi Arabia, as (53.6%) of total Umrah performers performed it in Ramadan. As for Umrah performers from outside, King Abdulaziz airport in Jeddah registered the highest percentage on foreign Umrah performers with (62.51%), while the percentage registered by Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz airport in Medina hit (25.7%).  All data of the Umrah survey results are available on GASTAT website www.stats.gov.sa to serve researchers and those who are interested in such data, and to support decision makers by providing them with detailed results.

It includes 20 chapters and data of more than 50 governmental entities GASTAT releases the 53rd edition of the Statistical Yearbook (2017) GASTAT released the (53rd) edition of the Statistical Yearbook for 1438/1439 H (2017). It is one of the most important statistical products released by GASTAT to monitor and document statistical data and information, also to shed light on the activities of the governmental bodies and the private sector as well.  Additionally, it reflects the growth rates from year to year and the improvement in the economic, social and population fields. The Statistical Yearbook aims to provide statistical data and information to businessmen, companies, planners, researchers and to the public too. Moreover, it accurately indicates the dimensions of the comprehensive development that were achieved by the Kingdom.  The Statistical Yearbook includes 20 chapters and over 300 tables that contain updated information which were added to improve the display and the documentation of statistical indicators and data. It covers the most significant data and information for different development sectors as well as the main results of the statistical works carried out by GASTAT during the year, also the data received from different statistical departments of more than 50 governmental and private sectors. Moreover, it includes data about: population and vital characteristic, housing and real-estate, health, training and education, agriculture, water and environment, culture and information, internal trade, social development and services, money, insurance and prices, administrative services, labor market, industry, domestic product and household expenditure, transportation, technology and communication, Islamic affairs, Hajj and Umrah, tourism ,  entertainment and sport, energy, economic establishments, and data on the budget.  The Statistical Yearbook is not limited to a certain category, for example, the population and vital characteristics chapter is considered one of the significant chapters that includes useful data to conduct a research or to build indicators related to population; and through this, many development requirements can be achieved in all cities and governorates. On the other hand, policy planners and decision makers can benefit from the training and education chapter, the private sector can prepare necessary plans as well to establish more educational institutions. In addition, these data are useful for planners and those who are interested in regulating the labor market.  The social development and services chapter is important for citizens in which it shows the services provided by them. Additionally, this chapter is also useful to social researchers in which it helps them to conduct researches and studies related to social issues.    The findings of the labor market and the social protection’s chapter are very important to prepare plans to regulate the labor market and to find the right solutions. Furthermore, they can be used to conduct economic researches by economists and researches who are interested in this.  Money, insurance and prices chapter can serve a large number of researchers in the economic field to conduct studies that show the inflation rates and the consumption patterns of the population and other indicators. It is worth mentioning that the first edition of the book was released in 1385 H (1965) and GASTAT usually prepares its chapters based on two main sources: the results of the researches and the field studies carried out by GASTAT and the statistical data received from different statistical departments from various governmental bodies.

According to the results of households and individuals’ ICT access and usage survey 2017 GASTAT: 83.83% of individuals (12 to 65 years) use internet, and 92% use cell phone On Thursday 24th of Sha’aban 1439 H corresponding 10th of May 2018, the General Authority for Statistics has released the report of households and individuals’ ICT access and usage survey results 2017. This report aims at providing recent data and indicators about the communication and information technology activity, which helps decision makers in obtaining necessary statistical data. In addition, it helps in founding a wide range data base that can be used as a reliable reference for ICT activity’ studies and research. It also provides researchers and students with statistical data about the households and individuals ICT activity, so that they can use it in their scientific studies and research that contribute in developing this activity in Saudi Arabia. Not to mention its role in making local, regional, and international comparisons in the households and individuals ICT activity. Based on the survey results, the percentage of households who can access the internet reached 86.8%. however, households who have fixed phone in their dwellings registered 24.74%. on the other hand, individuals who use the internet recorded 68.13% of total Saudi population, whereas 83.83% of individuals whose ages range between (12 and 65 years) use the internet. As for cell phones, the percentage of individuals who use cell phones is 73.28% of total Saudi population. 91% of individuals whose ages range between (12 and 65 years) use cell phones. According to the results of this survey, the percentage of households who have a computer in their dwellings reached 46.6% of total Saudi population. However, individuals who use computers registered 24.69%, whereas 30% of total individuals whose ages range between (12 and 65 years) use computers. As for the percentage of households who have a television, they registered 92.67% of total Saudi population.