Saudi Arabia Services Employment
Employment in services SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS
Saudi Arabia's services employment was 74.43% in 2025, ranked 144th globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Saudi Arabia's services employment stood at 74.43% in 2025, a rise of +0.07% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 72.43% by 2026. Saudi Arabia ranked 144th globally.
Saudi Arabia's services employment has shown a mixed trend over the past three and a half decades, with a notable increase in recent years. As of 2025, the country ranks 144th globally with 74.43 percent of its workforce employed in the services sector. The services employment rate peaked at 80.23 percent in 2022, up from a trough of 66.40 percent in 1993. This growth is comparable to that of Mauritius, which also experienced a significant increase in services employment, reaching 74.67 percent in 2025. In contrast, the Dominican Republic, another peer country, has shown a more stable trend, with 74.02 percent of its workforce employed in services. Despite this progress, Saudi Arabia still lags behind countries like New Zealand, which boasts a services employment rate of 74.64 percent in 2025. A continuation of the country's economic diversification efforts may help sustain the growth of the services sector and potentially propel Saudi Arabia to a higher global ranking.
Data & projection
| Year | Services Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 69.91% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 71.17% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 72.43% | - | - |
| 2025 | 74.43% | +0.07% | #144 |
| 2024 | 74.36% | +0.16% | #145 |
| 2023 | 74.20% | −6.03% | #147 |
| 2022 | 80.23% | +2.44% | #168 |
| 2021 | 77.80% | +3.86% | #160 |
| 2020 | 73.93% | +1.37% | #149 |
| 2019 | 72.56% | +1.26% | #146 |
| 2018 | 71.29% | +1.55% | #141 |
| 2017 | 69.75% | +0.12% | #131 |
| 2016 | 69.63% | +0.14% | #133 |
| 2015 | 69.49% | +0.10% | #135 |
| 2014 | 69.39% | +0.06% | #137 |
| 2013 | 69.33% | +0.27% | #136 |
| 2012 | 69.06% | +0.12% | #138 |
| 2011 | 68.94% | −0.19% | #138 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Saudi Arabia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw services employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Saudi Arabia's services employment was 74.43% in 2025. Ranked 144th globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from the previous year.
Saudi Arabia's services employment peaked at 80.23% in 2022.
The lowest services employment in Saudi Arabia was 66.40% in 1993.
Saudi Arabia ranks 144th globally in services employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Saudi Arabia's services employment is projected to reach 72.43% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The services employment of Saudi Arabia in 2025 was 74.43%. This ranks 144th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_saudi-arabia_services-employment,
title = {Saudi Arabia Services Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/saudi-arabia/services-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}