emirates7 - The Saudi General Authority for Statistics announced on Sunday that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows reached SAR 22.2 billion (USD 5.9 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, while the national unemployment rate dropped to 7.8%.
According to the report, FDI inflows rose by 44% compared to Q1 2024, when they stood at SAR 15.5 billion (USD 4.1 billion). However, they were 7% lower than in Q4 2024, which had recorded SAR 23.9 billion (USD 6.4 billion). Another set of data showed that FDI for Q1 2025 amounted to SAR 24.0 billion (USD 6.4 billion), marking a 24% increase year-on-year, but a 6% decline from the previous quarter.
In terms of employment, the overall jobless rate for individuals aged 15 and above fell to 7.8% in Q1 2025, down from 8.5% in Q4 2024. Among Saudi nationals, the unemployment rate dropped to 7.6% from 8.4%, with male unemployment decreasing from 5.1% to 4.7%, and female unemployment declining from 14.3% to 13%.
The labour force participation rate among Saudis reached 47.6%, with a breakdown of 66.6% for males and 35.4% for females. The employment-to-population ratio was reported at 92.4%.
The data also highlighted that most Saudi job seekers are between the ages of 20 and 29, with the highest concentrations in Riyadh, Makkah, the Eastern Province, Aseer, and Qassim.
According to the report, FDI inflows rose by 44% compared to Q1 2024, when they stood at SAR 15.5 billion (USD 4.1 billion). However, they were 7% lower than in Q4 2024, which had recorded SAR 23.9 billion (USD 6.4 billion). Another set of data showed that FDI for Q1 2025 amounted to SAR 24.0 billion (USD 6.4 billion), marking a 24% increase year-on-year, but a 6% decline from the previous quarter.
In terms of employment, the overall jobless rate for individuals aged 15 and above fell to 7.8% in Q1 2025, down from 8.5% in Q4 2024. Among Saudi nationals, the unemployment rate dropped to 7.6% from 8.4%, with male unemployment decreasing from 5.1% to 4.7%, and female unemployment declining from 14.3% to 13%.
The labour force participation rate among Saudis reached 47.6%, with a breakdown of 66.6% for males and 35.4% for females. The employment-to-population ratio was reported at 92.4%.
The data also highlighted that most Saudi job seekers are between the ages of 20 and 29, with the highest concentrations in Riyadh, Makkah, the Eastern Province, Aseer, and Qassim.