Labour force: ICLS13) (15+) … previous ICLS13 15+ in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 81.36 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in United Arab Emirates, 1975–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 81.36 for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in 2024. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 3.7% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United Arab Emirates peaked at 81.36 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 55.4, in 1995.
That places United Arab Emirates 9th out of 210 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 73.31 | — |
| 1980 | 75.25 | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 55.4 | -26.4% |
| 2005 | 77.5 | +39.9% |
| 2008 | 72.56 | -6.4% |
| 2009 | 72.37 | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 80.57 | +11.3% |
| 2017 | 80.77 | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 81.01 | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 80.2 | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 80.35 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 76.81 | -4.4% |
| 2022 | 77.38 | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 78.45 | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 81.36 | +3.7% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 81.36 is above the median for high income countries, which is 63.11, 1.3× the median. (80 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 81.36 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 48.89, 1.7× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in United Arab Emirates changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +39.9% | 55.4 | 77.5 |
| 1995 | -26.4% | 75.25 | 55.4 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 73.31 | 73.31 | 73.31 | 1 |
| 1980s | 75.25 | 75.25 | 75.25 | 1 |
| 1990s | 55.4 | 55.4 | 55.4 | 1 |
| 2000s | 74.14 | 72.37 | 77.5 | 3 |
| 2010s | 80.64 | 80.2 | 81.01 | 4 |
| 2020s | 78.87 | 76.81 | 81.36 | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More work & labour data for United Arab Emirates
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.9136 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.7692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.1 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.7766 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 12,158 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,005 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 11,620 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 14,514 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 26,134 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United Arab Emirates?
- Labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United Arab Emirates was 81.36 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 81.36 in 2024.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 55.4 in 1995.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 9th out of 210 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The labour force participation rate is the labour force as a percent of the working-age population. The labour force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed. For more information, refer to the Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.