United Arab Emirates Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Overview
United Arab Emirates's labor force participation stood at 78.59% in 2025, a rise of +0.11pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 79.24% by 2026. United Arab Emirates ranked 12th globally.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 80.11% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 79.68% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 79.24% | - | - |
| 2025 | 78.59% | +0.11pp | #12 |
| 2024 | 78.48% | +0.12pp | #12 |
| 2023 | 78.37% | +1.13pp | #13 |
| 2022 | 77.24% | +0.19pp | #14 |
| 2021 | 77.05% | −1.73pp | #13 |
| 2020 | 78.78% | −0.69pp | #8 |
| 2019 | 79.47% | +0.36pp | #9 |
| 2018 | 79.11% | +0.35pp | #9 |
| 2017 | 78.76% | +0.31pp | #11 |
| 2016 | 78.45% | +0.45pp | #11 |
| 2015 | 78.00% | +0.33pp | #12 |
| 2014 | 77.67% | +0.34pp | #12 |
| 2013 | 77.33% | +0.29pp | #14 |
| 2012 | 77.05% | +0.18pp | #14 |
| 2011 | 76.87% | +0.23pp | #17 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
United Arab Emirates matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
United Arab Emirates's labor force participation was 78.59% in 2025. Ranked 12th globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from the previous year.
United Arab Emirates's labor force participation peaked at 79.47% in 2019.
The lowest labor force participation in United Arab Emirates was 74.35% in 1990.
United Arab Emirates ranks 12th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
United Arab Emirates's labor force participation is projected to reach 79.24% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of United Arab Emirates in 2025 was 78.59%. This ranks 12th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_united-arab-emirates_labor-force-participation,
title = {United Arab Emirates Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/united-arab-emirates/labor-force-participation},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}