UAE Unemployment Rate 1991-2023

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
  • UAE unemployment rate for 2021 was 3.36%, a 0.17% increase from 2020.
  • UAE unemployment rate for 2020 was 3.19%, a 0.96% increase from 2019.
  • UAE unemployment rate for 2019 was 2.23%, a 0.12% decline from 2018.
  • UAE unemployment rate for 2018 was 2.35%, a 0.11% decline from 2017.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Unemployment Rate (%)
New Caledonia 16.57%
Greece 14.80%
Spain 14.73%
French Polynesia 14.39%
Virgin Islands (U.S.) 13.27%
Bahamas 13.24%
Panama 12.09%
Argentina 10.90%
Uruguay 10.45%
Barbados 10.41%
Italy 9.83%
Chile 9.13%
Croatia 8.68%
Sweden 8.66%
Puerto Rico 8.27%
France 8.06%
Lithuania 7.90%
Brunei 7.65%
Latvia 7.60%
Finland 7.53%
Canada 7.51%
Channel Islands 7.37%
Saudi Arabia 7.36%
Guam 6.98%
Slovak Republic 6.74%
Portugal 6.65%
Ireland 6.63%
Belgium 6.42%
Estonia 6.33%
Austria 6.30%
Cyprus 6.13%
United States 5.46%
Iceland 5.40%
Switzerland 5.32%
Hong Kong 5.32%
Luxembourg 5.23%
Australia 5.11%
Israel 5.05%
Norway 4.99%
Trinidad and Tobago 4.81%
Denmark 4.80%
United Kingdom 4.53%
Slovenia 4.42%
New Zealand 4.12%
Hungary 4.12%
Netherlands 4.01%
Kuwait 3.71%
Singapore 3.62%
Germany 3.54%
South Korea 3.53%
Malta 3.50%
Poland 3.37%
UAE 3.36%
Oman 3.12%
Macao 3.01%
Czech Republic 2.89%
Japan 2.80%
Bahrain 1.87%
Qatar 0.26%
UAE Unemployment Rate - Historical Data
Year Unemployment Rate (%) Annual Change
2021 3.36% 0.17%
2020 3.19% 0.96%
2019 2.23% -0.12%
2018 2.35% -0.11%
2017 2.46% 0.82%
2016 1.64% -0.13%
2015 1.77% -0.14%
2014 1.91% -0.13%
2013 2.04% -0.14%
2012 2.19% -0.12%
2011 2.30% -0.18%
2010 2.48% -0.20%
2009 2.68% -0.06%
2008 2.74% -0.14%
2007 2.87% -0.07%
2006 2.94% -0.18%
2005 3.12% 0.21%
2004 2.91% 0.16%
2003 2.75% 0.10%
2002 2.65% 0.16%
2001 2.49% 0.24%
2000 2.25% 0.03%
1999 2.22% 0.08%
1998 2.14% 0.16%
1997 1.98% 0.08%
1996 1.90% 0.10%
1995 1.80% -0.01%
1994 1.81% -0.04%
1993 1.85% 0.01%
1992 1.84% -0.02%
1991 1.87% -0.02%