UAE set to lead global workforce growth

The UAE will need to add 1.03 million workers by 2030, largely due to economic growth and tech roles needed to support digital transformation, a recent report showed.

- Somshankar Bandyopadhyay

This 12.1 per cent increase in the human workforce represents one of the highest percentage increases among the markets studied, compared to projected growth in major economies such as the United States (2.1 per cent), the United Kingdom (2.8 per cent), and India (10.6 per cent).

The ServiceNow report, Workforce Skills Forecast 2025, conducted in collaboration with Pearson, found that the UAE's manufacturing, education, and retail sectors will be among the main drivers of this expansion, adding approximately 133,000, 78,000, and 60,000 new jobs respective ly. Key industries such as finance and healthcare are also expected to add more than 40,000 and 39,000 roles.

Interestingly, when comparing relative growth, the energy and utilities sector is set to expand most significantly at 33 per cent, followed by education (31 per cent) and manufacturing (18 per cent).