Saudi Arabia: population employed in the private sector, by nationality (Saudi/non Saudi) and sex (Q1 2021-Q1 2025)

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 the administrative records of subscribers to the General Organization of Social Insurance (GOSI).
Population of reference: workers employed in the private sector, registered with the GOSI.
GOSI covers:
a. contributors on the job who are subject to social insurance laws and regulations, employed in the private sector;
b. contributors on the job who are subject to social insurance laws and regulations, employed in the public (government) sector;
c. 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 categories:
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.

GOSI data for the first quarter of 2023 has been updated from the number of subscriptions to the number of subscribers.

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 metadata section in report, and:
https://database.stats.gov.sa/Methodologies/En_Documents/03_Labor%20Market%20Bulletin%20Methodology,%20Fourth%20Quarter%202020%20_%20General%20Authority%20for%20Statistics.pdf
https://database.stats.gov.sa/Methodologies/En_Documents/03_Labor%20Market%20Bulletin%20Methodology,%20Fourth%20Quarter%202020%20_%20General%20Authority%20for%20Statistics.pdf

Classification of economic activities: Saudi Classification of Economic Activities, based on the International Standard Industrial Classification of all economic activities (ISIC4)
https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/classifications

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 time-series was built using the quarterly Register-based Labour Market Statistics for given quarters
2023-2025: available at:
https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/statistics-tabs/-/categories/417515?tab=436312&category=417515
Before 2023: available in the “archived data”:
https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/statistics?index=1317550
“social statistics”, and “labour force”
https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/statistics-tabs?tab=436312&category=1333429

No data on employed by sector available before Q2 2018.

Last date of access: 17 November 2025.

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

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