Unemployment rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) was 1.74 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in United Arab Emirates, 2016–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate (current ilo definition - icls19) in United Arab Emirates is 1.74, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.0% on the previous year and up 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate (current ilo definition - icls19) in United Arab Emirates peaked at 4.29 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.64, in 2016.
That places United Arab Emirates 73rd out of 74 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Unemployment rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1.64 | — |
| 2017 | 2.46 | +50.5% |
| 2018 | 2.24 | -9.2% |
| 2019 | 2.33 | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 4.29 | +84.2% |
| 2021 | 3.1 | -27.7% |
| 2022 | 2.87 | -7.5% |
| 2023 | 2.15 | -25.1% |
| 2024 | 1.88 | -12.8% |
| 2025 | 1.74 | -7.0% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 1.74 is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.87, 36% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 1.74 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.02, 58% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 2.17 | 1.64 | 2.46 | 4 |
| 2020s | 2.67 | 1.74 | 4.29 | 6 |
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 unemployment rate (current ilo definition - icls19) in United Arab Emirates?
- Unemployment rate (current ilo definition - icls19) in United Arab Emirates was 1.74 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment rate (current ilo definition - icls19) recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 4.29 in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate (current ilo definition - icls19) recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.64 in 2016.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for unemployment rate (current ilo definition - icls19)?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 73rd out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate (current ilo definition - icls19) rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.6%. 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 Unemployment rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (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 includes only countries for which the 19th ICLS definitions are applied. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database description.