The UAE has emerged as the top destination for job opportunities across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, driven by rising demand for skilled professionals and a tightening labor market, according to LinkedIn’s latest Economic Graph report.
The report highlights a 35.2% year-over-year increase in the ratio of job openings to active applicants, making the UAE the only country in the EMEAL region where labor market tightness is still intensifying. This trend reflects the country’s expanding economy and its growing need for qualified talent across both public and private sectors.
Fueling this growth is the UAE’s rapidly rising population, which climbed from 9.78 million in 2021 to 11.29 million in 2025, according to Worldometers. As the workforce grows, so does employer demand—especially within sectors like government, which led hiring activity with a 23.6% increase. Other notable sectors include real estate and equipment rental (23.3%), consumer services (11.8%), education (5%), and oil, gas, and mining (1.4%).
Hybrid job opportunities also saw a sharp rise, increasing by 83.9% year-over-year— the highest rate across the EMEAL region. However, interest from job seekers appears to be lagging, with applications for hybrid roles falling 5.8% over the same period. In contrast, applications for remote jobs edged up slightly by 1.4%, even as remote job postings declined by 19.2%.
The hiring momentum is further backed by strong economic indicators. S&P Global’s latest PMI survey revealed that staffing levels in the UAE’s non-oil sectors rose at the fastest rate in nearly a year, as companies scrambled to clear growing backlogs of work.
David Owen, senior economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, noted that while job creation has accelerated, some firms may still be struggling to fill positions.
With forecasts positioning the UAE as a regional leader in GDP growth for 2025, the country's employment landscape is expected to remain dynamic. As businesses expand and diversify, the competition for skilled talent is only set to intensify.
News Source: Khaleej Times
