DataPulseنبض البيانات

Social sciences, journalism and media 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):

92.0%are working

8.0% 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 · All14.7%11.5%10.6%8.0%
Bachelor's · Men3.2%2.1%2.9%2.7%
Bachelor's · Women30.5%24.9%21.2%15.2%
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 5.6%
  • Men 2.9%
  • Women 9.5%

2024 figures in detail

Bachelor's

AllMenWomen
Holders in the labour market who are working92.0%97.3%84.8%
Unemployment rate8.0%2.7%15.2%
Unemployment, aged 25–3413.6%Sample too smallSample too small
Holders who are in the labour market73%88%60%
Of those looking for work: searching for a year or more39%Sample too smallSample too small
Average monthly wage of those in paid work (SAR)10,85012,8447,546
Holders in the labour market (thousand)1468462

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

  • 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.

By region (2024)

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

RegionBachelor'sDiploma
Riyadh59Sample too small
Makkah41Sample too small
MadinahSample too smallSample too small
QassimSample too smallSample too small
Eastern ProvinceSample too smallSample 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 10 majors

Social and behavioural sciences

  • Economics
  • Geography
  • Political science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

Journalism and information

  • Library and information science
  • Media and journalism

Majors that fall under two fields

  • Educational psychology
  • Film and audio-visual production
  • Public relations

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