Saudi Arabia: Work permits granted for private sector employment, by economic activity sector (2014)

Economic activity sector of permit holder Work permits
Agriculture, Forests, Hunting and Fishing 91,960
Mines, Oil, Gas and Quarries 27,374
Manufacturing industries 679,918
Electricity, Gas and Water 12,342
Construction 4,256,643
Wholesale Trade and Retail 1,458,049
Transports, Storage and Communications 253,323
Finance, Insurance, Real estate services and Businesses 118,154
Collective, Social, and Personal services 626,563
Total 7,524,326

Source: Ministry of Labour
1. Definitions

Classification used for economic activity is adapted from ISIC 3.1

2. Data collection methodology

The issuance of the residency and work permits begins with filing an application with the Ministry of Labor.
After its approval, the Ministry of Labor forwards the application to the Ministry of Interior for the issuance of the residency permit.

3. Institution which provides data

Ministry of Labour

4. Data availability

The figures are published in the Ministry of Labour’s website (open data section) (in Arabic).
http://portal.mol.gov.sa/ar/Statistics/Pages/opendata.aspx?m=8

Last date of access: 18 December 2015.