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
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in United Arab Emirates, 2017–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 2.47 for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is down 37.7% 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 5 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2.47, in 2025.
That places United Arab Emirates 85th out of 89 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 4.29 | — |
| 2018 | 3.8 | -11.4% |
| 2021 | 4.39 | +15.5% |
| 2022 | 5 | +13.9% |
| 2023 | 3.96 | -20.7% |
| 2025 | 2.47 | -37.7% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 2.47 is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.45, 33% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 2.47 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 11.61, 21% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4.04 | 3.8 | 4.29 | 2 |
| 2020s | 3.95 | 2.47 | 5 | 4 |
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 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 5 in 2022.
- What is the lowest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.47 in 2025.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 85th out of 89 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 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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. LU3 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment or the potential labour force. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.