Women’s Employment in Saudi Arabia
A survey of the Saudi labor market reveals enormous potential as well as significant challenges. The Kingdom’s bold move to diversify away from a purely petroleum-based economy will require the skills, participation, and energy of its most valuable resource: its citizens. In 2007, 85.6 percent of the nationals in Saudi Arabia’s labor force were men. Women in the labor force had an unemployment rate of 26.9 percent—nearly four times that of men.
The Saudi government is making major efforts to improve the status of women in terms of employment. However, a number of social, legal, educational, and occupational factors continue to hinder Saudi women’s full participation in the labor market, preventing the Kingdom from reaching its full economic potential. Although incorporating women fully into the labor market may not be achieved overnight, it can—and must—be achieved if the Kingdom is to transition to a knowledge-based economy.
Decision makers at every level of government can no longer avoid the implementation of sweeping reforms in education and labor policies to ensure that women have the opportunity and skills to participate—and succeed—in the economy. Women’s employment should be a crucial element in a larger macroeconomic policy designed to foster equitable social and economic development.
First and foremost, the Saudi government will have to ratify, implement, and enforce legislation that promotes equal participation in the labor market. The government should implement policies that create employment opportunities for women and create institutional mechanisms that promote women’s well-being and success in the workforce. This could include a quota system for women similar to Saudization, as well as other incentives such as family-friendly workplace practices. These policies must be linked to a clear monitoring strategy that ensures their effectiveness, and a modern system of data collection and statistical analysis must be put in place. Cross-sector partnerships, in addition to cooperative regional initiatives dedicated to creating a female labor network, should be established in order to leverage existing resources.
At all levels, the government should seek to create a supportive cultural environment for women and commit to overcoming the existing customs and social barriers that hamper women’s success. In addition, it must revamp both the educational and the vocational training systems to better prepare women for the labor force—emphasizing sciences, mathematics, foreign languages, and information technology—and reduce the influence of harmful gender stereotypes. It should establish a “lifelong learning” system of training and guidance and promote entrepreneurship and self-employment, and Saudi workers must have access to professional development in the areas that will matter most in a knowledge-based economy.
Working together, the Saudi government, the private sector, and NGOs should ensure that legislation promotes women’s equal participation in the labor market. Existing legislation must be rigorously implemented, with an eye toward ensuring that women can work autonomously, with appropriate training and fair workplace practices in place. The Saudi public education system must be revamped to prepare women for the digital marketplace, and strong support systems for women must be established. Going forward, a special unit should be established to handle female labor issues at the Ministry of Labor, and women should be prepared for positions at the highest levels of decision making and responsibility. These measures will ensure that the Saudi labor force is robust, capable, and equipped to deal with tomorrow’s challenges—and reap its opportunities.
Article Index
- Executive Summary
- The State of Women’s Employment in Saudi Arabia
- Exhibit 1 - The Unemployment Rate for Saudi Women is Significantly Higher Than for Saudi Men
- Women’s Employment and Education
- Exhibit 2 - Educated Women Are Employed in the Labor Force
- Exhibit 3 - Working Women Are Concentrated in Education
- Exhibit 4 - Most Women Working in the Private Sector Are in Urban Areas
- Current Initiatives to Promote Saudi Women in the Labor Market
- Women and the Private Sector in Malaysia
- Major Constraints on Saudi Women Joining the Labor Market
- Policy Recommendations to Enhance Women’s Employment
- What Should be Done by the Government at the National Policy Level
- What Should be Done by The Ministry of Labor
- Lessons from Malaysia
- What Should be Done by The Ministry of Education
- What Should be Done by The Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- How Some Arab Countries Promote Women’s Economic Integration
- Conclusion
Press Releases
Author Profiles
Dr. Mona AlMunajjed is a senior advisor with Booz & Company’s Ideation Center in Riyadh. She specializes in social issues and has worked with various international agencies on programs and projects related to social development. She focuses on activating the economic and educational role of women in the Arab region.
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