DataPulseنبض البيانات

Health and welfare in the labour market

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

In short (2024) (1445–1446 AH)

In 2024, of Bachelor's holders in this field who were in the labour market (working or looking for work):

93.5%are working

6.5% are looking for work

A measured share for a past year; it does not say what will happen to any one person.

Unemployment year by year 2021–2024

past measurement, not a forecast

2021(1442–1443 AH)2022(1443–1444 AH)2023(1444–1445 AH)2024(1445–1446 AH)
Bachelor's · All8.2%8.0%7.5%6.5%
Bachelor's · Men3.9%4.7%4.1%4.2%
Bachelor's · Women12.3%11.0%10.4%8.7%
Diploma · All1.5%0.9%1.1%1.4%
Diploma · MenSample too small0.5%0.7%1.3%
Diploma · WomenSample too smallSample too smallSample too smallSample too small

Latest quarter (diploma or higher): Q2 2026 (Shawwal 1447 – Muharram 1448 AH)

  • All 4.5%
  • Men 2.9%
  • Women 6.5%

2024 figures in detail

Bachelor's

AllMenWomen
Holders in the labour market who are working93.5%95.8%91.3%
Unemployment rate6.5%4.2%8.7%
Unemployment, aged 25–346.7%4.0%9.2%
Holders who are in the labour market84%91%77%
Of those looking for work: searching for a year or more27%Sample too smallSample too small
Average monthly wage of those in paid work (SAR)12,43714,09210,686
Holders in the labour market (thousand)224110114

Diploma

AllMenWomen
Holders in the labour market who are working98.6%98.7%Sample too small
Unemployment rate1.4%1.3%Sample too small
Unemployment, aged 25–34Sample too smallSample too smallSample too small
Holders who are in the labour market91%94%Sample too small
Of those looking for work: searching for a year or moreSample too smallSample too smallSample too small
Average monthly wage of those in paid work (SAR)13,09713,510Sample too small
Holders in the labour market (thousand)5537Sample too small

An average across all ages; it is not any one person’s wage.

Where they work and in what occupation (2024)

Bachelor's

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.

Diploma

Where they work and in what occupation (2024)

Economic activity

  • Health and social work78%
  • Public administration and defence15%
  • Education2%
  • Wholesale and retail trade1%
  • Other4%

Occupation

  • Technicians and associate professionals77%
  • Professionals18%
  • Clerical support workers2%
  • Managers1%
  • Other2%

Paid employees only.

By region (2024)

Holders of the field in the region’s labour market (thousand).

RegionBachelor'sDiploma
Riyadh71Sample too small
Makkah54Sample too small
MadinahSample too smallSample too small
QassimSample too smallSample too small
Eastern Province31Sample too small
AsirSample too smallSample too small
TabukSample too smallSample too small
HailSample too smallSample too small
Northern BordersSample too smallSample too small
JazanSample too smallSample too small
NajranSample too smallSample too small
Al-BahaSample too smallSample too small
Al-JoufSample too smallSample too small

Majors in this field

Names only, per ISCED-F 2013; the figures above are for the whole field.

Includes 22 majors

Health

  • Anaesthesia technology
  • Clinical nutrition
  • Dental technology and oral health
  • Dentistry
  • Emergency medical services
  • Health informatics
  • Medical laboratory sciences
  • Medicine
  • Midwifery
  • Nursing
  • Occupational therapy
  • Optometry
  • Pharmacy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Public health
  • Radiology
  • Respiratory therapy
  • Speech and language therapy

Welfare

  • Family and childhood studies
  • Social work

Majors that fall under two fields

  • Biomedical engineering
  • Health services and hospital administration

What is published about what is ahead (on the tool page) · What should I study? All fields