Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — United Arab Emirates

Labor force participation rate in the United Arab Emirates in 2025 — 78.59%. Ranked 12 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 4.24 pp.

2025 78.59% +0.11 pp vs 2024
World rank 12of 182
Period maximum 79.47%2019
Period minimum 74.35%1990

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — United Arab Emirates, 1990–20257476788019901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 74.35%1991: 74.65%1992: 74.95%1993: 75.48%1994: 75.81%1995: 76.16%1996: 76.03%1997: 75.36%1998: 74.88%1999: 74.6%2000: 74.51%2001: 74.65%2002: 74.99%2003: 75.47%2004: 76.06%2005: 76.71%2006: 77.22%2007: 77.32%2008: 77.06%2009: 76.6%2010: 76.64%2011: 76.87%2012: 77.05%2013: 77.33%2014: 77.67%2015: 78%2016: 78.45%2017: 78.76%2018: 79.11%2019: 79.47%2020: 78.78%2021: 77.05%2022: 77.24%2023: 78.37%2024: 78.48%2025: 78.59%
Change over the period: +4.24 pp Annual average: 0.12 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates 78.59%
World 60.98%
Western Asia computed 51.54%
High-income countries computed 61.12%
Labor force participation rate — United Arab Emirates, by year United Arab Emirates All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 78.59 +0.11 pp
2024 78.48 +0.12 pp
2023 78.37 +1.13 pp
2022 77.24 +0.19 pp
2021 77.05 −1.73 pp
2020 78.78 −0.69 pp
2019 79.47 +0.36 pp
2018 79.11 +0.35 pp
2017 78.76 +0.31 pp
2016 78.45 +0.45 pp
2015 78 +0.33 pp
2014 77.67 +0.34 pp
2013 77.33 +0.29 pp
2012 77.05 +0.18 pp
2011 76.87 +0.23 pp
2010 76.64 +0.05 pp
2009 76.6 −0.46 pp
2008 77.06 −0.26 pp
2007 77.32 +0.1 pp
2006 77.22 +0.52 pp
2005 76.71 +0.65 pp
2004 76.06 +0.59 pp
2003 75.47 +0.48 pp
2002 74.99 +0.34 pp
2001 74.65 +0.14 pp
2000 74.51 −0.09 pp
1999 74.6 −0.27 pp
1998 74.88 −0.48 pp
1997 75.36 −0.68 pp
1996 76.03 −0.13 pp
1995 76.16 +0.35 pp
1994 75.81 +0.33 pp
1993 75.48 +0.53 pp
1992 74.95 +0.3 pp
1991 74.65 +0.29 pp
1990 74.35

About the indicator

The share of the population aged 15 and over that belongs to the labor force. It shows how fully a country uses its labor potential. The decline in advanced countries comes from an aging population and longer years of schooling, while low values in developing ones usually come from limited participation by women.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.