Saudi Arabia: Employed population by nationality (Saudi /non-Saudi) and sex (Q1 2017-Q3 2022)

Saudis Non-Saudis Total
Males Females Total Males Females Total Males Females Total
2017 Q1 2,021,865 1,017,080 3,038,945 9,859,039 991,153 10,850,192 11,880,904 2,008,233 13,889,137
2017 Q2 2,029,786 1,022,663 3,052,449 9,777,916 1,010,793 10,788,709 11,807,702 2,033,456 13,841,158
2017 Q3 2,035,745 1,027,999 3,063,744 9,674,729 1,019,591 10,694,320 11,710,474 2,047,590 13,758,064
2017 Q4 2,080,601 1,083,245 3,163,846 9,442,163 975,132 10,417,295 11,522,764 2,058,377 13,581,141
2018 Q1 2,067,976 1,082,433 3,150,409 9,231,869 951,235 10,183,104 11,299,845 2,033,668 13,333,513
2018 Q2 2,053,189 1,072,154 3,125,343 8,927,862 964,861 9,892,723 10,981,051 2,037,015 13,018,066
2018 Q3 2,043,585 1,066,402 3,109,987 8,622,890 955,165 9,578,055 10,666,475 2,021,567 12,688,042
2018 Q4 2,040,742 1,070,457 3,111,199 8,356,943 1,072,476 9,429,419 10,397,685 2,142,933 12,540,618
2019 Q1 2,036,142 1,075,887 3,112,029 8,458,199 1,195,013 9,653,212 10,494,341 2,270,900 12,765,241
2019 Q2 2,027,964 1,062,284 3,090,248 8,529,419 1,237,365 9,766,784 10,557,383 2,299,649 12,857,032
2019 Q3 2,023,910 1,076,902 3,100,812 8,572,339 1,254,757 9,827,096 10,596,249 2,331,659 12,927,908
2019 Q4 2,054,858 1,115,414 3,170,272 8,792,516 1,428,187 10,220,703 10,847,374 2,543,601 13,390,975
2020 Q1 2,066,553 1,136,870 3,203,423 9,092,998 1,339,191 10,432,189 11,159,551 2,476,061 13,635,612
2020 Q2 2,055,767 1,115,655 3,171,422 9,101,286 1,357,746 10,459,032 11,157,053 2,473,401 13,630,454
2020 Q3 2,100,702 1,152,574 3,253,276 8,866,940 1,334,922 10,201,862 10,967,642 2,487,496 13,455,138
2020 Q4 2,079,331 1,172,867 3,252,198 8,753,985 1,312,515 10,066,500 10,833,316 2,485,382 13,318,698
2021 Q1 2,081,446 1,225,152 3,306,598 8,773,896 1,403,319 10,177,215 10,855,342 2,628,471 13,483,813
2021 Q2 2,098,831 1,181,183 3,280,014 8,449,536 1,170,338 9,619,874 10,548,367 2,351,521 12,899,888
2021 Q3 2,127,551 1,215,287 3,342,838 8,244,566 1,118,241 9,362,807 10,372,117 2,333,528 12,705,645
2021 Q4 2,180,320 1,269,737 3,450,057 8,481,117 1,114,064 9,595,181 10,661,437 2,383,801 13,045,238
2022 Q1 2,233,351 1,338,525 3,571,876 8,971,450 1,187,323 10,158,773 11,204,801 2,525,848 13,730,649
2022 Q2 2,262,535 1,375,609 3,638,144 9,320,979 1,210,640 10,531,619 11,583,514 2,586,249 14,169,763
2022 Q3 2,274,628 1,417,858 3,692,486 9,593,551 1,304,906 10,898,457 11,868,179 2,722,764 14,590,943

Source: Register-based Labour Market Statistics, General Authority for Statistics (GAStat)                                                                                                 

1. Data collection methodology

LFS were first conducted in 2001 and became bi-annual after 2006. Data were collected through
nationally representative household sample surveys, which sampling was based on most recent
censuses.
Since 2016, Labour Force Surveys have been conducted and published on a quarterly basis, based on
a household telephone survey conducted by GAStat. Employment data extracted from administrative
records were also introduced as a complement to the results of Labour Force Surveys in Labour
Market Statistics' publications, starting on Q1 2017.

The present data is taken from administrative records.

GAStat Labour Market Statistics: administrative records
Estimates of figures and characteristics of employment in Saudi Arabia are taken from administrative
records from the following institutions:
– Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) (formerly Ministry of Labour and
Social Development):
Supplies data on Government sector’s workers.
– General Organization of Social Insurance (GOSI):
Supplies data on:
a. contributors on the job who are subject to social insurance laws and regulations in the private
and government sector;
b. workers who terminated their contribution to social insurance during the quarter.

– National Information Center (NIC):
Supplies data on domestic workers.

Definitions and categories used by GAStat in Labour Markets Statistics (employment; unemployment;
occupation and activity sectors, etc.) are based on international standards:
For LFS methodology and definitions, see: https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/node/9787.

2. Institution which provides data

General Authority for Statistics (GAStat)
3. Data availability

Since 2021, GAStat has been publishing separately the employment data taken from administrative
records, and unemployment/inactivity data as well as general indicators, calculated from the results
of the field interviews conducted by GAStat (Labour Force Survey).
The present time-series was taken from the Register-based Labour Market Statistics- Q3, 2022
(English and Arabic versions)
https://www.stats.gov.sa/sites/default/files/LMS_2022_Q3_EN.xlsx
https://www.stats.gov.sa/sites/default/files/LMS_2022_Q3_AR.xlsx

Date of access: 02 January 2023.

GLMM and GRC cannot guarantee that the link to access the source will not change; that the
information will not be removed from the website it was obtained from; that no geo-blockages will
be imposed; or that the information will not be available for any another reason.

Keywords:
Employment, Female Employment, Saudi Arabia, National & Foreign Labour