Economic growth and digital transformation will drive one of the world’s fastest workforce expansions, according to ServiceNow’s Workforce Skills Forecast.
A Workforce Boom on the Horizon
The UAE is set to lead global workforce growth, adding more than 1.03 million jobs by 2030, according to ServiceNow’s recently released Workforce Skills Forecast 2025. This represents a 12.1% increase in the human workforce—one of the highest growth rates among major economies. By comparison, the United States is projected to grow by just 2.1%, the UK by 2.8%, and India by 10.6%.
The surge is fueled by economic expansion and the accelerating demand for tech talent to support digital transformation. While automation and AI will reshape roles, the report emphasizes that human expertise will remain indispensable.
Sector-Wise Growth
Manufacturing, education, and retail will be among the biggest contributors to job creation, adding approximately 133,000, 78,000, and 60,000 roles respectively. Finance and healthcare will also see significant growth, with more than 40,000 and 39,000 new positions expected.
“The future of work depends on collaboration between people and AI—and it’s a future that’s hiring now.”
— William O’Neill, Area VP & General Manager – GCC, ServiceNow
When measured by relative growth, energy and utilities will lead with a 33% increase, followed by education (31%) and manufacturing (18%)—underscoring the UAE’s commitment to diversifying its economy.
AI Will Augment, Not Replace
Despite the rise of agentic AI, the report finds that efficiency gains will be far outweighed by the need for human talent. For example, in financial services, AI could perform work equivalent to 17,000 full-time employees (around 6.6% of the current workforce). Yet, the sector is still projected to grow by 26%, driven by economic expansion and the need for tech-enabled roles.
William O’Neill, Area VP & General Manager – GCC at ServiceNow, explained: “AI augmentation will be central to capturing the next wave of economic growth. The organisations that win the race for top talent will be those that redesign roles and invest in upskilling to meet the demands of this new era.”
Tech Roles to Surge by 54%
While overall workforce growth is pegged at 12.1%, demand for technology professionals will skyrocket by 54%. Currently, tech roles account for about 169,000 of the UAE’s 8.5 million jobs. By 2030, organisations will require 91,000 additional tech specialists.
Among the most sought-after roles:
- Search Marketing Strategists: +5,600 positions
- Computer Programmers: +4,200 positions
- Systems Analysts: +2,700 positions
To address this skills gap, ServiceNow launched ServiceNow University earlier this year—a learning platform designed to equip individuals for an AI-driven future.
The Road Ahead
O’Neill outlined a clear roadmap for organisations:
- Deploy AI thoughtfully to enhance productivity.
- Establish strong governance frameworks to manage risks.
- Invest ambitiously in upskilling to prepare employees for an AI-augmented world.
“This three-pronged approach will help create workforces that are more resilient, innovative, and fulfilled,” O’Neill added.
Bottom Line:
The UAE is on track to become a global leader in workforce growth and digital transformation. With over a million new jobs and a surge in tech roles, the future of work in the Emirates will be defined by collaboration between people and AI—and the time to prepare is now.
