The Dubai Data and Statistics Foundation, part of Dubai Digital, has announced the launch of the “Annual Workforce Survey” for Dubai in 2025. This survey aims to estimate the size of the workforce and assess key employment and unemployment indicators.
The initiative will provide up-to-date information regarding the demographic, social, and economic characteristics of the population, with a focus on the economically active segment. The foundation has urged targeted households to actively participate and collaborate in the survey.
This will facilitate the work of field teams and highlights the significance of the data produced to support decision-makers in the development of future policies and strategies. The survey represents one of the major ongoing projects outlined in the foundation’s strategic plan and its results are pivotal for making informed strategic decisions.
Additionally, it will aid in launching qualitative initiatives in areas such as education, higher education, vocational training, skills enhancement, Emiratisation, inclusive employment, and increasing female participation in the labor market, thereby promoting equal opportunities for all community segments. Younes Al Nasser, CEO of the Dubai Data and Statistics Foundation, stressed the importance of the survey, stating:
“The Annual Workforce Survey is a crucial tool for measuring the state of the labor market, analyzing gaps and challenges, and forecasting job futures and market variables. This supports the objectives outlined in the Dubai 2033 Plan and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
Moreover, the social agenda for Dubai 33 indicators relies on utilizing and analyzing workforce and unemployment data to define programs and targets for Emiratisation in both the private and public sectors, enhancing Dubai’s competitiveness at regional and global levels, and solidifying its position as a global economic capital.”
He added, “We encourage all targeted households to actively participate in the survey, as it is vital for understanding participation rates in economic activity and monitoring changes in the job market, including unemployment rates across various demographics.”
The survey will offer an accurate depiction of the diverse demographic, social, and economic characteristics of the population and the workforce. It will also examine the professional composition and economic activities of employed individuals, as well as their employment status, along with measuring unemployment rates based on different characteristics and tracking changes in key indicators over the years.
The Dubai Data and Statistics Foundation asserts that privacy and information security standards are strictly adhered to throughout the survey process, emphasizing the collection of data will be analyzed to identify the various characteristics of the population and workforce, including both employed and unemployed individuals and their circumstances, alongside evaluating unemployment rates and studying Emiratisation levels within the emirate.
The survey will employ multiple methods of data collection, including phone calls, email, text messages, and on-site visits for face-to-face interviews with households and individuals.
Conducted from October 1, 2025, to November 3, 2025, the survey will comply with national and international standards in this field. It aims to target a community sample of 3,300 households distributed across various planning areas of the emirate.
This survey serves as an essential tool for measuring the state of the labor market and analyzing existing gaps and challenges.