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Labour-market figures by field

Unemployment, employment and pay of graduates in ten fields, by qualification, sex and region.

Figures by field

Departments are for browsing; the ten fields are the survey’s grouping that the figures use, and each major counts under one of them.

Figures for the ten fields

FieldWorkingUnemploymentAverage wage (SAR)
Agriculture and veterinary———
Arts and humanities88.5%11.5%10,319
Business, administration and law91.5%8.5%11,491
Education90.9%9.1%11,147
Engineering, manufacturing and construction95.4%4.6%16,042
Health and welfare93.5%6.5%12,437
Information and communication technology89.2%10.8%12,356
Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics88.1%11.9%10,627
Services94.8%5.2%16,979
Social sciences, journalism and media92.0%8.0%10,850

Labour Force Survey · Saudis · average of 2024 (1445–1446 AH)

Bachelor's, all ages. Fields in alphabetical order. “—”: the survey sample is too small. An average across all ages; it is not any one person’s wage.

Each field in detail

Agriculture and veterinary

The survey sample is too small for this choice, so we do not show its figures.

What is published about what is ahead

Arts and humanities

88.5%are working of holders who are in the labour market (working or looking for work)

11.5% are looking for work (unemployment rate)

Latest quarter, Q2 2026 (Shawwal 1447 – Muharram 1448 AH): unemployment among holders of the field (diploma or higher) 6.9%A single quarter fluctuates; the full year above is steadier.

Aged 25–34: unemployment 17.2%

In the labour market: 66% of all holders (the rest neither work nor look for work)

Of those looking for work: searching for a year or more: 41%

Average monthly wage of those in paid work: 10,319 SAR An average across all ages; it is not any one person’s wage.

Size of the labour market for holders: 436 thousand

Unemployment among holders of Arts and humanities, year by year 2021–2024 (past measurement, not a forecast)
  1. 20211442–1443 AH19.9%
  2. 20221443–1444 AH16.3%
  3. 20231444–1445 AH13.9%
  4. 20241445–1446 AH11.5%

All fields (Bachelor's): unemployment 8.9%

Where they work and in what occupation (2024)

Economic activity

  • Education42%
  • Public administration and defence23%
  • Wholesale and retail trade7%
  • Manufacturing4%
  • Other24%

Occupation

  • Professionals51%
  • Clerical support workers18%
  • Technicians and associate professionals16%
  • Service and sales workers7%
  • Other8%

Paid employees only.

All figures for the field · What is published about what is ahead

Business, administration and law

91.5%are working of holders who are in the labour market (working or looking for work)

8.5% are looking for work (unemployment rate)

Latest quarter, Q2 2026 (Shawwal 1447 – Muharram 1448 AH): unemployment among holders of the field (diploma or higher) 7.8%A single quarter fluctuates; the full year above is steadier.

Aged 25–34: unemployment 9.7%

In the labour market: 79% of all holders (the rest neither work nor look for work)

Of those looking for work: searching for a year or more: 37%

Average monthly wage of those in paid work: 11,491 SAR An average across all ages; it is not any one person’s wage.

Size of the labour market for holders: 693 thousand

Unemployment among holders of Business, administration and law, year by year 2021–2024 (past measurement, not a forecast)
  1. 20211442–1443 AH14.1%
  2. 20221443–1444 AH12.4%
  3. 20231444–1445 AH9.3%
  4. 20241445–1446 AH8.5%

All fields (Bachelor's): unemployment 8.9%

Where they work and in what occupation (2024)

Economic activity

  • Public administration and defence31%
  • Education9%
  • Wholesale and retail trade8%
  • Finance and insurance7%
  • Other45%

Occupation

  • Professionals43%
  • Technicians and associate professionals19%
  • Clerical support workers16%
  • Managers14%
  • Other8%

Paid employees only.

All figures for the field · What is published about what is ahead

Education

90.9%are working of holders who are in the labour market (working or looking for work)

9.1% are looking for work (unemployment rate)

Latest quarter, Q2 2026 (Shawwal 1447 – Muharram 1448 AH): unemployment among holders of the field (diploma or higher) 5.3%A single quarter fluctuates; the full year above is steadier.

Aged 25–34: unemployment 15.0%

In the labour market: 68% of all holders (the rest neither work nor look for work)

Of those looking for work: searching for a year or more: 59%

Average monthly wage of those in paid work: 11,147 SAR An average across all ages; it is not any one person’s wage.

Size of the labour market for holders: 545 thousand

Unemployment among holders of Education, year by year 2021–2024 (past measurement, not a forecast)
  1. 20211442–1443 AH17.3%
  2. 20221443–1444 AH15.6%
  3. 20231444–1445 AH11.4%
  4. 20241445–1446 AH9.1%

All fields (Bachelor's): unemployment 8.9%

Where they work and in what occupation (2024)

Economic activity

  • Education63%
  • Public administration and defence12%
  • Wholesale and retail trade5%
  • Health and social work3%
  • Other17%

Occupation

  • Professionals67%
  • Clerical support workers12%
  • Technicians and associate professionals8%
  • Managers6%
  • Other6%

Paid employees only.

All figures for the field · What is published about what is ahead

Engineering, manufacturing and construction

95.4%are working of holders who are in the labour market (working or looking for work)

4.6% are looking for work (unemployment rate)

Latest quarter, Q2 2026 (Shawwal 1447 – Muharram 1448 AH): unemployment among holders of the field (diploma or higher) 5.3%A single quarter fluctuates; the full year above is steadier.

Aged 25–34: unemployment 4.2%

In the labour market: 88% of all holders (the rest neither work nor look for work)

Average monthly wage of those in paid work: 16,042 SAR An average across all ages; it is not any one person’s wage.

Size of the labour market for holders: 192 thousand

Unemployment among holders of Engineering, manufacturing and construction, year by year 2021–2024 (past measurement, not a forecast)
  1. 20211442–1443 AH5.6%
  2. 20221443–1444 AH5.3%
  3. 20231444–1445 AH5.0%
  4. 20241445–1446 AH4.6%

All fields (Bachelor's): unemployment 8.9%

Where they work and in what occupation (2024)

Economic activity

  • Public administration and defence20%
  • Manufacturing13%
  • Construction13%
  • Professional, scientific and technical10%
  • Other44%

Occupation

  • Professionals66%
  • Managers16%
  • Technicians and associate professionals12%
  • Clerical support workers3%
  • Other4%

Paid employees only.

All figures for the field · What is published about what is ahead

Health and welfare

93.5%are working of holders who are in the labour market (working or looking for work)

6.5% are looking for work (unemployment rate)

Latest quarter, Q2 2026 (Shawwal 1447 – Muharram 1448 AH): unemployment among holders of the field (diploma or higher) 4.5%A single quarter fluctuates; the full year above is steadier.

Aged 25–34: unemployment 6.7%

In the labour market: 84% of all holders (the rest neither work nor look for work)

Of those looking for work: searching for a year or more: 27%

Average monthly wage of those in paid work: 12,437 SAR An average across all ages; it is not any one person’s wage.

Size of the labour market for holders: 224 thousand

Unemployment among holders of Health and welfare, year by year 2021–2024 (past measurement, not a forecast)
  1. 20211442–1443 AH8.2%
  2. 20221443–1444 AH8.0%
  3. 20231444–1445 AH7.5%
  4. 20241445–1446 AH6.5%

All fields (Bachelor's): unemployment 8.9%

Where they work and in what occupation (2024)

Economic activity

  • Health and social work71%
  • Public administration and defence10%
  • Wholesale and retail trade6%
  • Education4%
  • Other9%

Occupation

  • Professionals74%
  • Technicians and associate professionals16%
  • Managers3%
  • Clerical support workers3%
  • Other4%

Paid employees only.

All figures for the field · What is published about what is ahead

Information and communication technology

89.2%are working of holders who are in the labour market (working or looking for work)

10.8% are looking for work (unemployment rate)

Latest quarter, Q2 2026 (Shawwal 1447 – Muharram 1448 AH): unemployment among holders of the field (diploma or higher) 10.4%A single quarter fluctuates; the full year above is steadier.

Aged 25–34: unemployment 9.5%

In the labour market: 77% of all holders (the rest neither work nor look for work)

Of those looking for work: searching for a year or more: 32%

Average monthly wage of those in paid work: 12,356 SAR An average across all ages; it is not any one person’s wage.

Size of the labour market for holders: 94 thousand

Unemployment among holders of Information and communication technology, year by year 2021–2024 (past measurement, not a forecast)
  1. 20211442–1443 AH16.2%
  2. 20221443–1444 AH13.7%
  3. 20231444–1445 AH10.7%
  4. 20241445–1446 AH10.8%

All fields (Bachelor's): unemployment 8.9%

Where they work and in what occupation (2024)

Economic activity

  • Public administration and defence23%
  • Education13%
  • Information and communication9%
  • Professional, scientific and technical7%
  • Other47%

Occupation

  • Professionals55%
  • Clerical support workers14%
  • Managers13%
  • Technicians and associate professionals12%
  • Other6%

Paid employees only.

All figures for the field · What is published about what is ahead

Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics

88.1%are working of holders who are in the labour market (working or looking for work)

11.9% are looking for work (unemployment rate)

Latest quarter, Q2 2026 (Shawwal 1447 – Muharram 1448 AH): unemployment among holders of the field (diploma or higher) 8.4%A single quarter fluctuates; the full year above is steadier.

Aged 25–34: unemployment 14.9%

In the labour market: 68% of all holders (the rest neither work nor look for work)

Of those looking for work: searching for a year or more: 33%

Average monthly wage of those in paid work: 10,627 SAR An average across all ages; it is not any one person’s wage.

Size of the labour market for holders: 208 thousand

Unemployment among holders of Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics, year by year 2021–2024 (past measurement, not a forecast)
  1. 20211442–1443 AH22.4%
  2. 20221443–1444 AH17.3%
  3. 20231444–1445 AH15.7%
  4. 20241445–1446 AH11.9%

All fields (Bachelor's): unemployment 8.9%

Where they work and in what occupation (2024)

Economic activity

  • Education52%
  • Public administration and defence12%
  • Health and social work7%
  • Wholesale and retail trade6%
  • Other23%

Occupation

  • Professionals62%
  • Technicians and associate professionals13%
  • Clerical support workers12%
  • Managers6%
  • Other7%

Paid employees only.

All figures for the field · What is published about what is ahead

Services

94.8%are working of holders who are in the labour market (working or looking for work)

5.2% are looking for work (unemployment rate)

Latest quarter, Q2 2026 (Shawwal 1447 – Muharram 1448 AH): unemployment among holders of the field (diploma or higher) 5.1%A single quarter fluctuates; the full year above is steadier.

In the labour market: 77% of all holders (the rest neither work nor look for work)

Average monthly wage of those in paid work: 16,979 SAR An average across all ages; it is not any one person’s wage.

Size of the labour market for holders: 68 thousand

Unemployment among holders of Services, year by year 2021–2024 (past measurement, not a forecast)
  1. 20211442–1443 AH6.0%
  2. 20221443–1444 AH5.8%
  3. 20231444–1445 AH5.2%
  4. 20241445–1446 AH5.2%

All fields (Bachelor's): unemployment 8.9%

Where they work and in what occupation (2024)

Economic activity

  • Public administration and defence61%
  • Education12%
  • Transport and storage5%
  • Wholesale and retail trade3%
  • Other19%

Occupation

  • Professionals69%
  • Technicians and associate professionals14%
  • Managers7%
  • Clerical support workers5%
  • Other5%

Paid employees only.

All figures for the field · What is published about what is ahead

Social sciences, journalism and media

92.0%are working of holders who are in the labour market (working or looking for work)

8.0% are looking for work (unemployment rate)

Latest quarter, Q2 2026 (Shawwal 1447 – Muharram 1448 AH): unemployment among holders of the field (diploma or higher) 5.6%A single quarter fluctuates; the full year above is steadier.

Aged 25–34: unemployment 13.6%

In the labour market: 73% of all holders (the rest neither work nor look for work)

Of those looking for work: searching for a year or more: 39%

Average monthly wage of those in paid work: 10,850 SAR An average across all ages; it is not any one person’s wage.

Size of the labour market for holders: 146 thousand

Unemployment among holders of Social sciences, journalism and media, year by year 2021–2024 (past measurement, not a forecast)
  1. 20211442–1443 AH14.7%
  2. 20221443–1444 AH11.5%
  3. 20231444–1445 AH10.6%
  4. 20241445–1446 AH8.0%

All fields (Bachelor's): unemployment 8.9%

Where they work and in what occupation (2024)

Economic activity

  • Public administration and defence37%
  • Education16%
  • Health and social work9%
  • Wholesale and retail trade6%
  • Other32%

Occupation

  • Professionals40%
  • Technicians and associate professionals24%
  • Clerical support workers19%
  • Managers10%
  • Other7%

Paid employees only.

All figures for the field · What is published about what is ahead

What those who publish say about what is ahead

These are published targets and opinions under their owners’ names, not a forecast by DataPulse.

  • Stated target

    Vision 2030 set the target “to lower the rate of unemployment from 11.6% to 7%”.

    Saudi Vision 2030 document · p. 38 · 25 April 2016 (18 Rajab 1437 AH)

  • Stated target

    Minister of Human Resources: unemployment among Saudis had fallen to 7.1%, reaching the Vision target early; the new target is to bring it down to 5% by 2030.

    Arab News: the minister at the Budget Forum 2024 · 27 November 2024 (25 Jumada al-Ula 1446 AH)

  • Employer opinion survey, not an official statistic

    Employers surveyed in Saudi Arabia expect 40% of core skills to change by 2030. The skills they most expect to grow in use: technological literacy (75%), AI and big data (70%), networks and cybersecurity (68%).

    World Economic Forum: Future of Jobs Report 2025, Saudi Arabia profile · p. 188 · January 2025 (Rajab – Sha'ban 1446 AH)

  • Employer opinion survey, not an official statistic

    In the same survey, roles employers expect to grow: AI and machine learning specialists, industrial and production engineers; roles they expect to decline: data entry clerks, accountants and auditors.

    World Economic Forum: Future of Jobs Report 2025, Saudi Arabia profile · p. 188 · January 2025 (Rajab – Sha'ban 1446 AH)

Measured: unemployment among Saudis in Q2 2026 (Shawwal 1447 – Muharram 1448 AH): 6.5% (GASTAT)

How do Bachelor's holders work?

The survey publishes this for the qualification as a whole, not for each field.

In what capacity

  • Paid employee91%
  • Employer with staff6%
  • Self-employed, no staff2%
  • Unpaid family worker0%

Where they work

  • Government sector56%
  • Private sector43%
  • Other1%

By region

Universities in each region and the majors whose pages we found on their websites; not everything each university teaches.

Riyadh15 universities
Makkah7 universities
Madinah3 universities
Qassim3 universities
Eastern Province5 universities
Asir2 universities
Tabuk1 university
Northern Borders1 university
Jazan1 university
Najran1 university
Al-Baha1 university
Al-Jouf1 university