Over 5 million working for the private sector in UAE

Iman Abdullah Al Ali, Staff Reporter

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has revealed that the number of labourers working in the private sector has reached nearly 5 million in 2018 compared to 5.039 million in 2017. Males constituted the largest proportion of employment in the UAE, exceeding 4 million, while females reached about 500,000. The number of establishments exceeded 338,000 in 2018 compared to 341,000 in 2017, according to the ministry.

Workers of age group of 30-34 posed the highest proportion of the workforce in the country with more than one million workers in 2018 compared to 1.168 million in 2017.

Workers are seen at the site where the Lovure Abu Dhabi is being constructed. File/ AFP

It is noteworthy that the rights reserved for workers contribute to the national efforts to highlight the status of the country in the protection of workers' rights. Moreover, the UAE is one of the few countries in the world that provides more than one million job opportunities annually for workers looking to develop their abilities and provide a better life for their families.

The Ministry of Emiratisation indicated that the total number of establishments operating in the country till the third quarter of 2018 reached 338,000, including 65,000 operating in construction, 129,000 operating in trade and repair services, 30,000 operating in manufacturing industries, 31,000 operating in real estate, leasing and business services. 24,000 operating in transport, storage and communications, 20,000 operating in hotels and restaurants, 25,000 operating in other community and personal services, 2,000 in education and studies, 2,000 in financial intermediation, 3,000 in health and social work, and 6,000 for other sectors.

Workers put goods on the deck of their dhows in Dubai creek. AFP

The Ministry also noted that based on the professional levels, the number of legislators, managers and business managers reached 173,000, scientific technicians and humanitarian specialists reached 434,000, technicians of scientific, technical and humanitarian subjects reached 305,000, clerical professions reached 377,000, service and sales professions reached 752,000, skilled workers in agriculture, fisheries and industry reached 12,000, construction workers, extractive professions and other reached 1.2 million, operators of machinery and equipment reached 519,000, and minor occupations reached 1.267 million, while no individuals were not classified by profession.

The distribution of workforce according to skill level, showed that the number of specialists reached 502,000, technicians reached 183,000, artisans reached 439,000, the skilled workers reached 1.496 million and those of limited skills reached 2.406 million, according to the Ministry.

Workers put the final touches on perfume bottles in Dubai. AFP

While distribution of the workforce, according to economic sectors, the Ministry indicated that the number workers in construction, trade and repair services reached 1.107 million, in manufacturing industries they reached 468,000, in real estate, leasing and business services reached 608,000, in transport, storage and communications reached 356,000, in hotels and restaurants reached 239,000, in community and other individual services reached 157,000, in education reached 89,000, in financial intermediation reached 73,000, in health and social work reached 86,000, and in other sectors reached 140,000.

According to age groups, there is no worker under 16 years, while the number of workers aged 16-19 reached 12,000, between 20-24 reached 503,000, between 25-29 reached 981,000, between 30-34 reached 1.177 million, between 40-44 reached 593,000, between 45-49 reached 401,000, between 50-54 reached 233,000, between 55-59 reached 127,000, between 60-64 reached 61,000, between 65-69 reached 16,000, and above 70 reached 4,000.

By gender, the number of males reached 4.541 million, and females reached 484,000, according to the ministry.