Saudi unemployment statistics face criticism
Saudi unemployment statistics face criticism
A recent survey by Saudi Arabia's central statistics department reveals a number of citizens shirking work, but critics say that this covers a much wider problem of unemployment in the kingdom.
2 min read
The vast majority of unemployed Saudis are women [AFP]
More than 75,000 Saudi citizens "refuse" to work, official statistics have shown, although many of them are financially secure through inheritances or through owning assets.
More than 36 percent of these people are aged between 20 and 30, according to official statistics, and most have degrees.
The statistics were published after a survey of 30,500 families - less than one percent of the population, leading to criticism of the results.
In US business magazine, Forbes, list of the world's billionaires, 10 were Saudi nationals with a combined fortune of $51.9bn.
There was a noticeable increase in the wealth of Saudis in 2014 compared to last year.
According to official statistics, the number of the Saudis outside the workforce is 7,967,000 with 2,368,000 males and 5,598,000 females.
However, not all on the list are classed as unemployed, as the total includes 3,603,000 people in school or studying, 746,078 retired, and 188,303 disabled.
The government's Central Department of Statistics and Information said that 5,577,489 Saudis were employed, and the vast majority worked in the public sector.
The department put the unemployment rate at 11.7 percent, with 651,305 unemployed citizens, the majority being women. One in three Saudi women are unemployed.
This method, however has raised controversy among economic analysts, who said that surveying less than one percent of the total number of Saudi families was ineffective.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
More than 36 percent of these people are aged between 20 and 30, according to official statistics, and most have degrees.
The statistics were published after a survey of 30,500 families - less than one percent of the population, leading to criticism of the results.
In US business magazine, Forbes, list of the world's billionaires, 10 were Saudi nationals with a combined fortune of $51.9bn.
There was a noticeable increase in the wealth of Saudis in 2014 compared to last year.
According to official statistics, the number of the Saudis outside the workforce is 7,967,000 with 2,368,000 males and 5,598,000 females.
However, not all on the list are classed as unemployed, as the total includes 3,603,000 people in school or studying, 746,078 retired, and 188,303 disabled.
The government's Central Department of Statistics and Information said that 5,577,489 Saudis were employed, and the vast majority worked in the public sector.
The department put the unemployment rate at 11.7 percent, with 651,305 unemployed citizens, the majority being women. One in three Saudi women are unemployed.
This method, however has raised controversy among economic analysts, who said that surveying less than one percent of the total number of Saudi families was ineffective.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
