Saudi unemployment down to single figures

JOBS BOOST: More Saudi men are now in employment compared to last year. (Getty Images)

The unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia has fallen to single figures, government officials have announced.

Labour Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi said the rate had fallen from 11.2 percent last year to 9.8 percent in 2008, as the government puts into action its plan to create more jobs.

Among Saudi men, unemployment has fallen from eight percent to six percent and from 26.6 percent to 24.9 percent among Saudi women, Arab News reported on Monday.

Al-Gosaibi said the total Saudi workforce had reached more than four million in February 2008 and included 3.42 million men and 656,972 women.

The number of unemployed Saudis fell from 454,000 to 400,000, representing 9.8 percent of the total Saudi work force, including 236,000 men and 164,000 women.

He said the ministry had tried to make use of the kingdom’s economic boom to increase job opportunities for Saudis.

He said unemployment among Saudi women graduates was due to social factors. “Some companies also fear that employing women is expensive,” he said.

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