Abu Dhabi Seeks to Cut Nation’s Unemployment

Heading recent events in nearby Arab nations, another oil state is quickly creating a jobs program for its indigenous population.

In this story from Gulf News, Abu Dhabi‘s Department of Economic Development (DED) says it will reduce unemployment rate to less than 5% by 2030 “by providing job opportunities for UAE jobseekers,” according to Rashid Ali Al Za’abi, DED executive director of planning and statistics.

Saudi Arabia recently announced a similar jobs plan to help speed the “Saudization” of its workforce. Likewise the process is being called “emiratisation” in Abu Dhabi.

“We aim to reduce the unemployment rate in the emirate of Abu Dhabi to less than 5% by 2030,” Al Za’abi told Gulf News.

Expatriates account for about 85% of Abu Dhabi’s workforce while unemployment among the emirati’s approximately 4 million workers was 14% as of Jan. 2010.

More from Gulf News:

A study conducted by DED showed that there are 12,112 job seekers in the western region and Al Ain (3,078 males and 9,034 females).

The study shows that the government sector accounts for the largest portion of the Emirati labor force, 87.4%, but job opportunities in the public sector do not exceed 0.4%. The private sector provides 97.8% of the jobs, yet the national labour force in this sector is only 6.1%, said Al Za’abi.

He added that the aim of the study was to stimulate economic development in remote areas of Abu Dhabi and create job opportunities for Emiratis in their areas.