Labour market · Estimate: possible, not certain
Lower youth unemployment (15–24)
Saudi 15–24 unemployment: 15.2% in Q2 2026
In other countries, employment programmes were associated with about this many more entering work
30 per 1,000 participants Estimate: possible, not certain
today youth unemployment is 8.7 percentage points above the overall rate
Range in the evidence: 10 to 50 per 1,000 participants
8.78.7What the numbers show
Published figures show unemployment of 15.2% for Saudis aged 15–24 against 6.5% for all ages, in Q2 2026 [1].
Ages 15–24: 2025-Q1: 14.8 → 2025-Q2: 14.7 → 2025-Q3: 17.3 → 2025-Q4: 17.6 → 2026-Q1: 16.0 → 2026-Q2: 15.2
All ages: 2025-Q1: 6.3 → 2025-Q2: 6.8 → 2025-Q3: 7.5 → 2025-Q4: 7.2 → 2026-Q1: 6.4 → 2026-Q2: 6.5
What was tried elsewhere: comparison
Private-sector hiring incentives
Programmes that temporarily covered part of a new hire's wage at a private firm.
Linked to higher employment odds: +1.1 points in a year, +21.1 after two or more years [2] — 118 estimates from several regions, all ages
Strength of evidence (how far to trust it): Low
Training programmes
Practical training courses that give job seekers skills employers ask for.
Linked to higher employment odds: +2.0 points in a year, +6.7 after two or more years [2] — 418 estimates from several regions, all ages
Strength of evidence (how far to trust it): Medium
Job-search assistance
One-to-one guidance, CV and interview coaching, and linking job seekers to open vacancies.
Linked to higher employment odds: +1.2 points in a year, +1.1 after two or more years [2] — 129 estimates from several regions, all ages
Strength of evidence (how far to trust it): Medium
Public work programmes
Temporary jobs in public or community projects created for job seekers.
Change in employment odds: +3.6 points in a year, then −1.1 after 1–2 years [2] — 76 estimates from several regions, all ages
Strength of evidence (how far to trust it): Low
How it was applied in published programmes
- Young people's position was measured from both demand and supply sides, covering vulnerable work, not unemployment alone [4].
- Stakeholders, including young people themselves, were consulted before programme goals were set [4].
- The programme type (training, employment services, entrepreneurship, public work) was chosen after reviewing published evidence [4].
- Results were tracked continuously, and the programme's effect on participants was measured [4].
Linked target
“Unemployment Rate Among Saudis (%) — Baseline 12.3% — 2030 Target 7%”[source]
Published target: 7% (2030)
The annual-report figure (2025) differs from the latest quarterly labour force survey figure because the periods differ.