Big increase in UAE-based private sector employees

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• Number of registered employees reached 5.37 million in Q2
• Construction sector topped the list of new work permits

The number of UAE-based private sector employees increased by nine percent in Q2, 2022, compared to the same period last year, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) said in its private sector workforce report.

The number of registered private sector employees reached 5.37 million by Q2 2022.

Khalil Al Khoori, acting under-secretary for human resources affairs at MoHRE, said that the UAE will keep enhancing the legislative framework of the job market with a focus on protecting the rights of employees and employers.

The ministry issued 537,974 new work permits in Q2, 2022, an increase of 27 percent year-on-year. On the other hand, work permit cancellations were down eight percent year-on-year to 301,569.

The construction sector accounted for the largest chunk of new work permits during the three-month period, followed by business services, trade and repair services, manufacturing, as well as hotels and restaurants sectors.

Nearly 26 percent of the total private sector workforce is in the construction sector, followed by 21 percent in the trade and repair services sector and 19 percent in the business services sector.