Hybrid Jobs Soar to New Heights

Record Demand for Hybrid Jobs - 84% Increase on LinkedIn

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to play a defining role in the global labor market. According to fresh LinkedIn data, the number of job postings for hybrid positions increased by nearly 84% between 2024 and 2025 in the country, placing it first in the EMEAL region (Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America). While labor market activity is stagnating or declining in many countries worldwide, demand for skilled labor continues to grow in the UAE.

Growing Demand for Talent

Data from the LinkedIn Economic Graph Report show that the UAE is the only country in the EMEAL region where labor market scarcity is intensifying – signifying more job postings compared to active job seekers. The ratio of open positions to active applicants increased by 35.2% year-over-year, clearly indicating a rising demand for professionally qualified workers.

As a result of continuous economic development, the country's population has also noticeably increased: while 9.78 million people lived in the UAE in 2021, this number rose to 11.29 million by 2025. This growth further strengthens the demand for labor, particularly in the technology, finance, education, and service sectors.

Outstanding Sectors in Recruitment

The most active employer was the public sector, where recruitment grew by 23.6%. This was closely followed by the real estate and rental services sector (23.3%), consumer services (11.8%), education (5%), and the oil, gas, and mining industries (1.4%). According to an S&P Global report, employment in the non-oil economy increased to a level not seen for 11 months, which is a response to increased corporate workloads.

Hybrid Jobs: Rapid Increase in Availability, Modest Interest

The most notable change is observed in hybrid work opportunities. In the UAE, the number of such job postings grew by 83.9% within a year. This number is not only the highest in the region but is also remarkable on a global scale. However, an interesting contradiction is that the number of applicants for hybrid positions decreased by 5.8%, indicating that employers are adapting more quickly to the new work model than employees.

Interest in remote work also grew slightly, with a 1.4% increase in applications for this type of job posting. At the same time, employer offerings for remote positions decreased by 19.2%, further reinforcing the view that the hybrid model is more favored in the UAE over fully remote work.

What Drives the Trends?

The economic dynamism experienced in recent years, continuous infrastructural investments, and an economy-building policy based on highly skilled labor have all contributed to making the UAE remain an attractive destination for professionals. The country's GDP growth remains a regional frontrunner, driven by the strengthening of sectors such as tourism, financial services, and the digital sector.

Behind the popularity of hybrid work is not only employers' openness to flexibility but also the growing appreciation among expatriates in the UAE for opportunities that allow them to balance work with family and personal life considerations.

Summary

The labor market in the United Arab Emirates has reached a new level. The nearly 84% annual increase in the number of hybrid jobs clearly shows that the country holds a leading role in the region, not only economically but also in terms of employment. While the workforce has not fully aligned with this direction yet, trends suggest that hybrid positions will continue to dominate the future workplace.

(Source of the article: Data released by LinkedIn.)