Saudi Arabia: Employed population (aged 15 and above) by nationality (Saudi/ non-Saudi), sex and main group of economic activities (Q2, 2024)

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.

Population of reference: workers subject to the rule of the General Organization of Social Insurance (GOSI):
a. contributors on the job who are subject to social insurance laws and regulations in the private and government sector;
b. new contributors, and contributors who terminated their contribution to social insurance during the quarter.

Figures of workers in Labor Market statistics which were derived from administrative records do not include the following category:

1-Workers in the military and security sectors
2- Workers who are not registered in the civil service, social insurance (GOSI) and domestic workers’ records, which include:
– Saudis working for their own businesses and are not subjected to the labor regulations, also, not registered in social insurance, such as those who work in delivery through electronic apps
– Saudi employers who work in establishments and not registered in the social insurance
– Non-Saudi staff working in foreign international, political or military missions
3- Non-Saudi employees who come to the Kingdom for work that normally takes less than three months to be completed.

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
https://database.stats.gov.sa/Methodologies/En_Documents/03_Labor%20Market%20Bulletin%20Methodology,%20Fourth%20Quarter%202020%20_%20General%20Authority%20for%20Statistics.pdf
https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/node/9787
https://database.stats.gov.sa/Methodologies/En_Documents/03_Labor%20Market%20Bulletin%20Methodology,%20Fourth%20Quarter%202020%20_%20General%20Authority%20for%20Statistics.pdf

Classification of activities: The Saudi Classification of Economic Activities, based on the International Standard Industrial Classification of all economic activities (ISIC4)

https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/isic4

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 Register-based Labour Market Statistics publications, given quarters and years.
(English and Arabic versions)
https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/814
https://www.stats.gov.sa/ar/814

Date of access: 05 November 2024.

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

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