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The Unemployment Rate Among Graduates Reaches 39%

Feb 4, 2026 February 4, 2026 2 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

The unemployment rate among Iranian graduates has risen to 39%, with significant disparities between genders and urban/rural areas. This crisis affects even PhD holders, forcing many to take unrelated jobs. The situation highlights the government's failure to meet job creation promises amidst rising youth unemployment.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The rising unemployment rate among graduates underscores the Iranian government's failure to create promised jobs, risking further discontent among the youth.

👥 Key Players

Ibrahim Raisi MENTIONED
President of Iran
"As the head of state, Raisi's policies and promises regarding job creation directly impact the economic situation and public sentiment."
Solat Mortazavi MENTIONED
Minister of Labor
"Responsible for labor policies and job creation initiatives, Mortazavi's role is crucial in addressing unemployment issues."
Mahmoud Karimi Biranjand MENTIONED
Deputy Minister of Labor for Employment
"His statements reflect the government's acknowledgment of the unemployment crisis among graduates."
Tasnim News Agency MENTIONED
News outlet affiliated with security institutions
"As a state-aligned media source, it shapes public perception and government accountability regarding economic issues."

📰 What Happened

The unemployment rate among Iranian graduates has risen to 39%, with notable disparities affecting women and rural populations. This situation has forced many highly educated individuals, including PhD holders, to accept jobs unrelated to their fields of study.

  • Unemployment among graduates increased by 1.8% from the previous year.
  • The highest unemployment rates are recorded among youth aged 15 to 24.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: High unemployment among graduates reflects broader economic mismanagement and dissatisfaction among the youth, potentially leading to social unrest.
🌍 Regional: Economic instability in Iran could affect regional security and economic relations with neighboring countries.
🌐 International: Western nations may view Iran's economic struggles as a factor in its geopolitical behavior and domestic policies.

📚 Background

Iran faces significant economic challenges, including high unemployment rates and inflation, exacerbated by international sanctions and internal policy failures.

Youth unemployment in Iran Economic policies of the Raisi administration
📡 Source: STATE MEDIA
📊 Confidence: 70%
Tasnim is affiliated with Iranian security institutions, which may influence its reporting to align with government narratives.

Official statistics indicate that the share of graduates in unemployment has increased by 1.8% compared to the previous year, reaching 39% in the winter of 1402. The Tasnim news agency, affiliated with security institutions, reported that an examination of the unemployment rate among the population aged 15 and older with higher education shows that 11.6% of the active higher education graduates were unemployed. According to this report, the rate is higher among women compared to men and in rural areas compared to urban areas. Tasnim emphasized that the unemployment of university graduates has become a threefold crisis, with joblessness even affecting PhD holders, to the extent that some have been forced to take jobs unrelated to their education to escape unemployment. In this context, Mahmoud Karimi Biranjand, the Deputy Minister of Labor for Employment, stated that the unemployment rate among graduates is not satisfactory. The website 'Tejarat News' also reported on 23 Dey 1402 that reports from the Technical and Vocational Organization indicate that 40% of those seeking skills are university graduates. Ibrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic, has consistently promised to create 'one million jobs per year' since mid-Khordad 1400 and this slogan has been reiterated by his cabinet's Minister of Labor, Solat Mortazavi, and has faced numerous reactions. Hamid Asafi noted that the unemployment rate among the youth is very high and young people are inevitably drawn into false jobs. The highest level of unemployment among 15 to 24-year-olds in Iran has been recorded in the last 19 years, with youth at the top of the unemployment list in Iran.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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