The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) issued on Wednesday the labor market statistics for the fourth quarter of 2020. According to estimates by GASTAT based on the Labor Force Survey the unemployment rate of total population, (Saudis and non-Saudis 15 years and above) decreased to 7.4% in the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to 8.5% during the third quarter of the same year. Moreover, the unemployment rate of total Saudis (males and females 15 years and above), decreased to 12.6% in the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to 14.9% during the third quarter of the same year. In the same context, the survey results showed a decrease in the unemployment rate of total male population in Saudi Arabia based on the estimates of the Labor Force Survey for the fourth quarter of 2020 to 4.0% compared to 4.4% in the third quarter of the same year. The unemployment rate of total female population also decreased from 24.6% in the third quarter of 2020 to 20.2% in the fourth quarter. The unemployment rate of Saudi males reached 7.1% in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to 7.9% in the third quarter of the same year, while the unemployment rate of Saudi females registered 24.4% during the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to 30.2% in the previous quarter, based on the estimates of the Labor Force Survey. The results of the survey also revealed that the labor force participation rate of the total population (Saudis and non-Saudis 15 years and above) increased to 61.0% during the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to 59.5% in the third quarter of the same year. Furthermore, the results indicated an increase in the labor force participation rate of the total male population (15 years and above) in the fourth quarter of 2020, to reach 80.6%, up from 79.4% during the previous quarter. The labor force participation rate of the total female population (15 years and above) increased during the fourth of 2020, to reach 32.1%, compared to 30.0% in the third quarter of the same year. The results also showed an increase in the labor force participation rate of all Saudis (males and females 15 years and above), to reach 51.2% in the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to 49.0% in the previous quarter. The economic participation rate among Saudi males increased to 68.5% compared to 66.0% in the third quarter of the same year, and the labor force participation rate among Saudi females increased to 33.2% compared to 31.3% in the previous quarter. When producing Labor Market statistics, the General Authority for Statistics uses two data sources: the main source is the Labor Force Survey (LFS), a survey conducted in around 33,000 households every quarter. The other source is administrative data from different government agencies to cross-validate and complement the LFS results. — SPA
