Riyadh - Mubasher: The Saudi unemployment rate hiked to 15.4% in the second quarter (Q2) of 2020, compared to 11.8% in the January-March period of the year, official data showed on Wednesday. 

In the second quarter of 2019, the unemployment rate registered 12.3%. The annual rise is largely attributed to the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the Saudi economy.

The total unemployment rate, for people aged 15 or older, increased by 3.4% yearly to reach 9% at the end of the April-June period.

Moreover, the total labour force participation rate recorded 48.8% in Q2-20, reflecting the higher participation of Saudi women in the labour force to 31.4% in Q2-20 from 25.9% in Q1-20.