Employment by status in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Employment by status was 94.4% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Employment by status in Saudi Arabia, 1991–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment by status in Saudi Arabia is 94.4%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment by status in Saudi Arabia peaked at 97.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 91.8%, in 1991.
Saudi Arabia ranks 7th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 92.4% | 91.8% | 93.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 94.1% | 93.2% | 95.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 96.3% | 94.8% | 97.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 94.2% | 93.4% | 95.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More work & labour data for Saudi Arabia
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 31.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 65.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 84.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 43.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 16.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 34.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 66.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment by status in Saudi Arabia?
- Employment by status in Saudi Arabia was 94.4% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment by status recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 97.4% in 2018.
- What is the lowest employment by status recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 91.8% in 1991.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for employment by status?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 7th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is employment by status rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment by status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of people in employment working as employees, as a percentage of total employment.