Recent official statistics reveal significant developments in the Saudi Arabian labor market, with the total number of non-Saudi domestic workers reaching approximately 4.13 million. The figures show a clear numerical advantage for males, who comprise the majority at around 2.72 million, compared to 1.4 million females, reflecting the current employment needs of Saudi families.
According to data from the General Authority for Statistics, based on records from the National Information Center, the profession of "private driver" played the most significant role in increasing the male population in this sector. The number of drivers reached approximately 1.779 million, of whom 1.77 million were males compared to only 443 million females. This substantial figure indicates the continued heavy reliance of Saudi families on private drivers to meet their daily logistical needs, despite social changes and the empowerment of women to drive.
Distribution of professions and sectors
In contrast, the domestic worker and cleaning sector led the non-domestic workforce with approximately 2.26 million workers, with women outnumbering men by 1.4 million to approximately 865,670. These figures reflect a balance in demand between logistics services (drivers) and domestic care and organizational services.
The statistics also included detailed information on other professions, with house managers accounting for a total of 5,087 workers, and cooks and food servers numbering approximately 53,270. Additionally, the data revealed 21,300 house and building guards, 5,555 home gardeners (all male), and specialized home care and education personnel, including nurses and private tutors.
Regulatory and economic context
These figures come at a time when the Kingdom is witnessing extensive regulatory reforms in the domestic worker sector, spearheaded by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development through the "Musaned" platform. These efforts aim to safeguard the rights of all contractual parties through mandatory contract documentation, the Wage Protection Program, and insurance coverage for employment contracts. These regulatory measures have contributed to market stability and made the data more accurate and transparent, thus facilitating economic and social planning.
The size of the domestic workforce, exceeding four million, reflects the purchasing power of Saudi families and a lifestyle that necessitates logistical and caregiving support within homes. Furthermore, the diversity of nationalities and professions highlights the openness of the Saudi market and its capacity to absorb specialized fields such as home healthcare and private education, aligning with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals of improving quality of life.
