UAE Labour Force Hits 9.4 Million as Unemployment Falls to 1.9%

New data released by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) shows the UAE’s labour force climbed to 9.4 million people in 2024, marking a notable increase from previous years. At the same time, the economic participation rate (for those aged 15 and above) rose to 81.4%, up from 78.5% in 2023.

Unemployment declined to 1.9% in 2024, down from 2.1% the previous year — a figure that ranks among the lowest globally, according to estimates from the International Labour Organization.

The composition of the workforce remains strongly private sector–oriented, with 85% of employed individuals (approximately 7.8 million people) working outside government entities. In terms of gender distribution, 81% of the employed workforce are men (about 7.5 million), while women account for 19% (approximately 1.7 million).

Labour force participation by age reveals that the largest segment, 30–39 years, makes up 36% of the workforce, followed by 25–29 years at 16% and 40–44 years at 15%. The report also shows that 96% of workers are wage earners, with 3% classified as employers or self-employed.

On global competitiveness, the UAE ranked first in the Labour Force Growth Index for 2025, and placed among the top five globally across several labour market indicators — including availability of skilled labour, labour regulations, and unit labour cost.