The UAE will add more than one million jobs by 2030, according to a new workforce study released in 2025. The forecast comes from ServiceNow, which analysed future skill needs as digital transformation reshapes the labour market. The findings matter now because hiring plans, education pipelines, and migration policies are already adjusting to 2030 targets.
The report projects 1.03 million new roles by the end of the decade. As a result, the UAE workforce will expand by 12.1 percent. In comparison, the US is expected to grow by 2.1 percent, while the UK may see 2.8 percent growth. India stands at 10.6 percent.
What UAE job growth looks like by sector
UAE job growth will not concentrate in one industry. Instead, it will spread across traditional and emerging sectors.
Manufacturing leads in absolute numbers. The sector is expected to add about 133,000 jobs. Education follows with nearly 78,000 roles. Retail comes next with close to 60,000 new positions.
Finance and healthcare also show steady momentum. Together, they will add close to 80,000 jobs. Meanwhile, energy and utilities will grow fastest in percentage terms, expanding by 33 percent. Education will grow by 31 percent, while manufacturing will rise by 18 percent.
Why technology strengthens UAE job growth
Despite rapid automation, technology will support UAE job growth rather than slow it. The study shows that artificial intelligence will change tasks, not erase demand for people.
In financial services, agentic AI could handle work equal to 17,000 full-time roles. That equals about 6.6 percent of the sector’s workforce. Even so, total employment in finance is still projected to rise by 26 percent. Economic expansion and digital adoption drive that increase.
UAE job growth fuels tech talent demand
Technology roles will grow far faster than the overall workforce. While total employment rises by 12.1 percent, tech jobs will surge by 54 percent.
Today, the UAE has around 169,000 technology professionals. By 2030, employers will need more than 91,000 additional specialists.
The fastest-growing roles include:
- Search marketing strategists
- Computer programmers
- Computer systems analysts
Together, these roles reflect rising demand for digital, data, and platform skills.
Upskilling becomes central to UAE job growth
To close skill gaps, companies are investing in training. ServiceNow launched ServiceNow University in May to support AI-focused upskilling.
Leaders emphasise responsible AI use, strong governance, and continuous learning. These steps aim to align workforce readiness with long-term UAE job growth.
The Workforce Skills Forecast 2025 draws on labour market data, job postings, and census sources. It analysed 5,600 roles across 10 countries and assessed the impact of 34 emerging technologies.
