Prime Highlight
- The UAE’s labor force grew significantly in 2024, with an economic participation rate rising to 81.4%, reflecting the country’s ongoing efforts to create more job opportunities and strengthen workforce inclusion.
- The country ranked first globallyin the Labour Force Growth Index for 2025 and secured top-five positions in several labor competitiveness indicators, demonstrating global recognition of its labor market strength.
Key Facts
- The UAE’s total labor force reached 4 millionin 2024, with 9.2 million employed, of which 81% were men and 19% women.
- Youth unemployment(ages 15–24) dropped sharply from 7% in 2023 to 5.2% in 2024, indicating improved job access for young people.
Background
The UAE’s labor force grew to 9.4 million in 2024, up from 2023, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) said. The economic participation rate of people aged 15 and above increased to 81.4% from 78.5%, while the unemployment rate fell to 1.9%, one of the lowest worldwide according to the International Labour Organization.
The UAE continues to perform strongly in global labor market competitiveness. It ranked first in the Labour Force Growth Index for 2025, according to the World Competitiveness Yearbook by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). It also ranked among the top five globally in other indicators, including labor force percentage, foreign labor percentage, availability of skilled labor, and labor regulations.
Hanan Ahli, Director of the FCSC, said the survey results reflect the country’s efforts to create opportunities and support workforce growth. She said the Labor Force Survey provides key data for research, planning, and decision-making, helping understand labor market trends and workforce characteristics.
The survey showed 9.2 million employed individuals, with 81% male and 19% female. Youth unemployment, for ages 15–24, dropped sharply to 5.2% from 16.7% in 2023. The private sector employs 85% of the workforce, while government, non-profit, and other sectors account for the rest.
Most workers are aged 30–39, making up 36% of employed people, followed by ages 25–29 and 40–44. About 96% of workers in the UAE earn wages, while 3% are self-employed or run their own businesses. This shows the strength and stability of the UAE labor market and the steady growth of job opportunities in different sectors.
