UAE posts one of world's strongest post-pandemic hiring recoveries: report

Abu Dhabi: The UAE recorded one of the strongest post-pandemic hiring recoveries among major global markets in 2025, while early indicators for 2026 point to a return to positive momentum in hiring and talent attraction, according to the UAE Economic Graph Report 2026 prepared by LinkedIn in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Trade. The report, titled "Labour Market Features and the Digital Economy in the UAE", draws on LinkedIn workforce data to provide insights into labour market trends and support policy development aimed at strengthening competitiveness and economic growth. According to the findings, the UAE was among a small group of countries globally that maintained hiring activity above 2019 pre-pandemic levels throughout 2025, underscoring the resilience of the country's labour market and the effectiveness of its economic policies. The report noted that although regional hiring and talent migration experienced volatility during the early months of 2026, LinkedIn data for June 2026 points to a recovery in both hiring activity and inbound talent flows. Talent remains central to growth Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade and Minister in charge of Attracting and Retaining Talent, said the findings reaffirm the UAE's position as a leading global destination for professionals, investors and innovators. "Talent and competencies are a key pillar in enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy and consolidating the UAE's position as a global hub for trade, investment and innovation," he said. Al Zeyoudi added that the UAE will continue developing its ecosystem for attracting and retaining global talent to support innovation and future economic growth. Real estate leads hiring growth The report identified several sectors as key drivers of employment growth. Real estate recorded the highest hiring growth compared to 2019 levels, while the following sectors maintained hiring levels above the national average: Education Construction Healthcare Administrative and support services Transport and logistics By workforce composition, professional services represented the largest sector on LinkedIn, accounting for 14.5% of members in the UAE, followed by manufacturing (12%) and accommodation and hospitality (9.2%). Global talent destination The UAE also ranked among the world's leading destinations for net talent migration, a measure of the inflow of skilled professionals relative to those leaving the country. The report attributed this performance to the UAE's competitive business environment, long-term residency programmes and quality-of-life advantages. Strong performance in digital skills On skills competitiveness, the UAE ranked: 1st globally in FinTech skills 2nd globally in attracting AI talent relative to population size 10th in business skills 11th in personal and behavioural skills The highest levels of digital skills penetration were recorded in: Technology and media Professional services Manufacturing The report noted that these strengths support the UAE's transition towards a knowledge-based and future-focused economy. Young workforce supports innovation Operations professionals accounted for the largest share of LinkedIn members in the UAE at 21.4%, followed by sales (11%) and business development (9.1%). The report also highlighted the country's youthful workforce, with Millennials and Generation Z representing the majority of employees across many sectors, particularly hospitality, retail and healthcare. This demographic profile was identified as a key factor supporting innovation, digital adoption and future economic competitiveness. Women's leadership continues to grow The report recorded further progress in women's representation in leadership positions. Female leadership participation increased from 18.8% in 2015 to 21.9% in 2025, with the strongest representation found in: Education Healthcare Entertainment Ali Matar, Head of LinkedIn MENA and EMEA Emerging Markets, said the latest data confirms the UAE's continued attractiveness to global talent. "LinkedIn's latest data points to impressive signs of recovery in the UAE across hiring and talent flows," he said. "This builds on the UAE's exceptional performance in 2025, when it recorded one of the strongest post-pandemic hiring rates among top global markets and reinforced its position as a leading destination for global talent." The UAE Economic Graph Report 2026 is the sixth edition released since the launch of the National Strategy for Attracting and Retaining Talent and reflects the ongoing partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Trade and LinkedIn in supporting evidence-based policymaking and strengthening the UAE's position as a global hub for talent and the digital economy.