LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates: LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force was 2.47 in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
2.47
Change on year
up 21.3%
World rank
62nd
of 63 countries
All-time high
6.54
in 2020
All-time low
2.04
in 2024
Years of data
9
2017–2025

LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in United Arab Emirates, 2017–2025

2345672017202120252017: 4.32018: 3.82019: 4.72020: 6.52021: 4.42022: 52023: 42024: 22025: 2.5

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

United Arab Emirates recorded 2.47 for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 21.3% on the previous year and down 42.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in United Arab Emirates peaked at 6.54 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.04, in 2024.

United Arab Emirates ranks 62nd of 63 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in United Arab Emirates, year by year

Annual values for LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+) in United Arab Emirates, 2017 to 2025.
Year Value Change
2017 4.29
2018 3.8 -11.4%
2019 4.69 +23.6%
2020 6.54 +39.3%
2021 4.39 -32.9%
2022 5 +13.9%
2023 3.96 -20.7%
2024 2.04 -48.6%
2025 2.47 +21.3%

United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries

  • United Arab Emirates's 2.47 is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.94, 31% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
  • United Arab Emirates's 2.47 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4.36, 57% of the median. (5 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 4.26 3.8 4.69 3
2020s 4.06 2.04 6.54 6

Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates

  1. 59 Malta 3.94 compare
  2. 60 Russia 3.22 compare
  3. 61 Poland 3.19 compare
  4. 63 Vietnam 2.31 compare

See the full ranking of 63 places →

More work & labour data for United Arab Emirates

All data for United Arab Emirates →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in United Arab Emirates?
Lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in United Arab Emirates was 2.47 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in United Arab Emirates?
The highest recorded value was 6.54 in 2020.
What is the lowest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in United Arab Emirates?
The lowest recorded value was 2.04 in 2024.
How does United Arab Emirates rank for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force?
United Arab Emirates ranks 62nd out of 63 countries with data for 2025.
Is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
Over the last ten years it is down 42.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in United Arab Emirates. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu3-combined-rate-of-unemployment-and-potential-labour-force-current-ilo-definition/united-arab-emirates/

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About this data

Indicator
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
63 places, 634 data points, 2014–2025
Last refreshed

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 includes only countries for which the 19th ICLS definitions are applied. LU3 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment or the potential labour force. For more information, refer to the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database description.