As part of a wideranging social and economic reform drive to cope with lower oil revenues, Saudi Arabia is trying to get more women working. But the ministry statement acknowledged “a lot of social obstacles including transportation and family responsibilities” that hinder female labour market participation. Saudi Arabia is the only country where women are not allowed to drive. In the third quarter of last year the unemployment rate for Saudi women was 34.5 percent, compared with 5.7 percent for Saudi men, according to figures cited by the firm Jadwa Investment. By 2020 the kingdom wants to boost the proportion of women in the workforce to 28 percent from 23 percent last year.

Source: Sunday Times March 14, 2017 13:30 UTC