The Role of Saudi Women in the Private Sector has improved after the reformation of the Saudi labor market to accommodate more women. This included opening job opportunities in various industrial, economic, and service fields, providing necessary support for their employment, increasing their participation in economic activities and the workforce, and setting controls to prevent wage discrimination between men and women and support female employment.
Number of Saudi women in the private sector
The total number of Saudi citizens working in the private sector reached 2,327,858, male and female, by the end of January 2024, with 1,375,478 male citizens and 952,380 female citizens.
The overall private sector workforce hit a record of 11,054,576 workers until January 2024, according to the National Labor Observatory (NLO). This is attributed to various growth factors, including initiatives by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, increased job creation, private sector prosperity, economic reforms, and government support.
Decrease in unemployment rate among Saudi women
Government efforts to empower Saudi women in the labor market have led to a decrease in female unemployment rates. By the fourth quarter of 2022, the unemployment rate among Saudi women dropped to 15.4 percent compared to previous years (2019, 2020, and 2021). This coincides with increased economic participation and employment rates for women across various fields. The employment rate for women rose to 30.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2022, up from 27.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021, while their labor force participation rate increased to 36 percent from 35.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Saudi women's participation in freelancing has also increased significantly. In 2021, the number of freelancing licenses issued to women reached 961,189, marking the highest number compared to previous years. In 2020, 105,518 licenses were issued, compared to only 7,997 licenses issued in 2019.
Increased participation of Saudi women in the private sector
The participation rate of Saudi women in the labor market, especially in certain fields, has increased. For instance, their participation in sales rose from 7 percent of the total workforce in 2014 to 47.2 percent in 2019. About 60 percent of Saudi women are employed in productive families' projects, representing the majority of the total workforce in this sector.
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