Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national was 4.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in United Arab Emirates, 2005–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in United Arab Emirates is 4.9%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is down 5.9% on the previous year and down 18.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in United Arab Emirates peaked at 14.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.9%, in 2025.
That places United Arab Emirates 142nd out of 160 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 8.0% | — |
| 2016 | 6.0% | -24.8% |
| 2017 | 7.7% | +26.9% |
| 2018 | 6.9% | -9.4% |
| 2019 | 7.6% | +9.1% |
| 2020 | 14.0% | +84.4% |
| 2021 | 10.0% | -28.7% |
| 2022 | 10.4% | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 6.4% | -38.8% |
| 2024 | 5.2% | -17.5% |
| 2025 | 4.9% | -5.9% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 4.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 36% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 4.9% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 15.3%, 32% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.0% | 8.0% | 8.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 7.1% | 6.0% | 7.7% | 4 |
| 2020s | 8.5% | 4.9% | 14.0% | 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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in United Arab Emirates?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in United Arab Emirates was 4.9% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 14.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.9% in 2025.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 142nd out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.