Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 5.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
5.5%
Change on year
up 29.1%
World rank
103rd
of 181 countries
All-time high
12.0%
in 2008
All-time low
2.0%
in 1985
Years of data
16
1975–2024

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in United Arab Emirates, 1975–2024

246810121975199920241975: 4.51980: 3.31985: 21995: 2.42000: 2.72005: 7.12008: 122016: 42017: 7.12018: 62019: 5.32020: 5.72021: 6.22022: 7.12023: 4.32024: 5.5

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in United Arab Emirates is 5.5%, measured in 2024.

The figure is up 29.1% on the previous year and up 37.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in United Arab Emirates peaked at 12.0% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 1985.

United Arab Emirates ranks 103rd of 181 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in United Arab Emirates, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate) in United Arab Emirates, 1975 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1975 4.5%
1980 3.3% -27.1%
1985 2.0% -37.8%
1995 2.4% +14.9%
2000 2.7% +15.3%
2005 7.1% +160.2%
2008 12.0% +69.8%
2016 4.0% -66.4%
2017 7.1% +77.5%
2018 6.0% -16.6%
2019 5.3% -10.1%
2020 5.7% +6.9%
2021 6.2% +8.2%
2022 7.1% +14.2%
2023 4.3% -39.6%
2024 5.5% +29.1%

United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries

  • United Arab Emirates's 5.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.5%, 1.0× the median. (75 countries reporting)
  • United Arab Emirates's 5.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 10.9%, 50% of the median. (20 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 4.5% 4.5% 4.5% 1
1980s 2.7% 2.0% 3.3% 2
1990s 2.4% 2.4% 2.4% 1
2000s 7.2% 2.7% 12.0% 3
2010s 5.6% 4.0% 7.1% 4
2020s 5.7% 4.3% 7.1% 5

Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates

  1. 100 Belgium 5.6% compare
  2. 101 Mongolia 5.6% compare
  3. 102 Afghanistan 5.5% compare
  4. 104 Kazakhstan 5.5% compare
  5. 105 New Zealand 5.4% compare
  6. 106 Austria 5.4% compare

See the full ranking of 205 places →

More work & labour data for United Arab Emirates

All data for United Arab Emirates →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in United Arab Emirates?
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in United Arab Emirates was 5.5% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in United Arab Emirates?
The highest recorded value was 12.0% in 2008.
What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in United Arab Emirates?
The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 1985.
How does United Arab Emirates rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
United Arab Emirates ranks 103rd out of 181 countries with data for 2024.
Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
Over the last ten years it is up 37.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in United Arab Emirates. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-female-percent-of-female-labor-force-national-estimate/united-arab-emirates/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
205 places, 5,402 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.