Employment in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Employment was 16,665 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Employment in Saudi Arabia, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 16,665 for employment in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 31.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Saudi Arabia peaked at 16,665 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3,036, in 1991.
That places Saudi Arabia 39th out of 188 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Employment in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3,036 | — |
| 1992 | 3,205 | +5.6% |
| 1993 | 3,353 | +4.6% |
| 1994 | 3,506 | +4.6% |
| 1995 | 3,666 | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 3,836 | +4.6% |
| 1997 | 4,009 | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 4,186 | +4.4% |
| 1999 | 4,364 | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 4,668 | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 4,900 | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 5,145 | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 5,463 | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 5,817 | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 6,205 | +6.7% |
| 2006 | 6,627 | +6.8% |
| 2007 | 7,116 | +7.4% |
| 2008 | 7,657 | +7.6% |
| 2009 | 8,125 | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 8,844 | +8.9% |
| 2011 | 9,598 | +8.5% |
| 2012 | 10,428 | +8.7% |
| 2013 | 11,219 | +7.6% |
| 2014 | 11,892 | +6.0% |
| 2015 | 12,668 | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 13,213 | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 12,788 | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 12,604 | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 13,067 | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 13,308 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 13,896 | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 14,605 | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 15,835 | +8.4% |
| 2024 | 16,276 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | 16,665 | +2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3,684 | 3,036 | 4,364 | 9 |
| 2000s | 6,172 | 4,668 | 8,125 | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,632 | 8,844 | 13,213 | 10 |
| 2020s | 15,098 | 13,308 | 16,665 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 36 South Africa 18,073 compare
- 37 Malaysia 18,015 compare
- 38 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 17,070 compare
- 40 Madagascar 16,572 compare
- 41 Mozambique 14,620 compare
- 42 Australia 14,170 compare
More work & labour data for Saudi Arabia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.6339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.5946 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.6842 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.31 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.5985 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 40,709 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 4,348 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 31,198 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 39,809 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 71,007 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Saudi Arabia?
- Employment in Saudi Arabia was 16,665 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 16,665 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,036 in 1991.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for employment?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 39th out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The employed comprise all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in one of the following categories: a) paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work); or b) self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.