DataPulseنبض البيانات

Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 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):

88.1%are working

11.9% 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 · All22.4%17.3%15.7%11.9%
Bachelor's · Men7.6%5.6%5.3%4.2%
Bachelor's · Women32.8%25.6%23.4%17.1%
Diploma · AllSample too smallSample too smallSample too smallSample too small
Diploma · MenSample too smallSample too smallSample too smallSample too small
Diploma · WomenSample too smallSample too smallSample too smallSample too small

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

  • All 8.4%
  • Men 3.1%
  • Women 12.7%

2024 figures in detail

Bachelor's

AllMenWomen
Holders in the labour market who are working88.1%95.8%82.9%
Unemployment rate11.9%4.2%17.1%
Unemployment, aged 25–3414.9%5.9%21.6%
Holders who are in the labour market68%86%59%
Of those looking for work: searching for a year or more33%Sample too small34%
Average monthly wage of those in paid work (SAR)10,62712,5278,975
Holders in the labour market (thousand)20884124

Diploma

AllMenWomen
Holders in the labour market who are workingSample too smallSample too smallSample too small
Unemployment rateSample too smallSample too smallSample too small
Unemployment, aged 25–34Sample too smallSample too smallSample too small
Holders who are in the labour marketSample too smallSample too smallSample 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)Sample too smallSample too smallSample too small
Holders in the labour market (thousand)Sample too smallSample too smallSample 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

  • 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.

By region (2024)

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

RegionBachelor'sDiploma
Riyadh45Sample too small
Makkah54Sample too small
MadinahSample too smallSample too small
QassimSample too smallSample too small
Eastern Province32Sample 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 14 majors

Biological and related sciences

  • Biochemistry and biotechnology
  • Biology
  • Forensic science
  • Marine sciences

Environment

  • Environmental sciences

Physical sciences

  • Astronomy and space science
  • Chemistry
  • Geology and earth sciences
  • Physics

Mathematics and statistics

  • Mathematics
  • Statistics

Majors that fall under two fields

  • Data science
  • Food technology
  • Geography

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