The United Arab Emirates will add more than one million jobs by 2030. Strong economic growth and rapid digital transformation will drive this expansion. The Workforce Skills Forecast 2025, published by ServiceNow with Pearson, estimates that the UAE will need 1.03 million additional workers by the end of the decade. This increase will expand the country’s workforce by 12.1 percent.
The report compares this growth with other major economies. The workforce will grow by 2.1 percent in the United States, 2.8 percent in the United Kingdom, and 10.6 percent in India.
Manufacturing, Education and Retail to Create Most Jobs
Several sectors will lead job creation in the UAE. Manufacturing will generate about 133,000 jobs, the highest among all industries. The education sector could add nearly 78,000 roles. Meanwhile, retail may create around 60,000 positions.
Other industries will also expand. Financial services could generate more than 40,000 jobs, while healthcare may add about 39,000 roles.
In percentage terms, energy and utilities will grow the fastest. Employment in this sector could rise by 33 percent. Education may grow by 31 percent, while manufacturing could increase by 18 percent.
AI to Support Workforce Growth
Artificial intelligence will reshape many industries. However, the report says AI will support workers rather than replace them. For example, in financial services, agentic AI could handle tasks equal to about 17,000 full-time employees. This figure represents around 6.6 percent of the sector’s current workforce.
Despite this change, the industry will continue to hire workers. Employment in financial services may grow by 26 percent by 2030. According to William O’Neill, Area Vice President and General Manager for the GCC at ServiceNow, organisations must combine human talent with AI tools to unlock future growth.
Demand for Technology Roles to Rise
Technology roles will grow faster than overall employment. The report predicts 54 percent growth in tech jobs over the next five years. Currently, technology positions account for about 169,000 jobs within the UAE’s 8.5 million workforce. By 2030, companies may need more than 91,000 additional technology professionals.
Several digital roles will see strong demand. These include search marketing strategists, computer programmers, and computer systems analysts.
Upskilling Key for Future Workforce
Companies will need skilled workers to support this growth. Training and upskilling will therefore become a priority. To address the skills gap, ServiceNow launched ServiceNow University. The learning platform helps professionals develop skills for an AI-driven workplace.
Experts say organisations must invest in training and responsible AI adoption. These steps will help build resilient and innovative workforces.
The Workforce Skills Forecast 2025 analysed 5,600 job roles across 10 countries. Researchers also studied the impact of 34 emerging technologies on the future of work.
