Youth at the Top of Unemployment List in Iran

The website 'Eghtesad News' reported that data from the Statistical Center of Iran shows that the unemployment rate among young people aged 15 to 24 is higher than the overall unemployment rate in the country, with one reason being the limitation of aligning work hours with education. Official statistics indicate that the highest level of unemployment among the 15 to 24 age group was recorded in winter 2010. The website 'Eco Iran' also reported that in spring 2005, the unemployment rate for young people aged 15 to 24 was 24%, and in winter 2010, the unemployment rate for this age group exceeded 31%, marking the highest recorded unemployment rate in the past 19 years. Youth unemployment reached 30% in 2016, attributed to an increased willingness of individuals to enter the job market and the lack of capacity to absorb all unemployed individuals. Eco Iran also noted in October 2023 that the active population in summer 2023 reached approximately 26 million 800 thousand, emphasizing that studies show that 2 million 115 thousand of these individuals were unable to find jobs and are considered unemployed. This economic website referenced existing statistics indicating that in the summer of the previous year, there were 1 million 643 thousand unemployed individuals aged 18 to 35 in the Iranian job market. Simultaneously, the newspaper Etemad highlighted that since the onset of COVID-19, more than three million people have been added to the 'working-age population' in Iran, but jobs have not been created at the same rate, leaving a significant portion of new job seekers unemployed. Furthermore, media reports in February 2024 indicate that in the current autumn, the unemployment rate for women aged 15 to 24 is above 20% in 26 provinces. Eco Iran also addressed this issue, stating that this rate for young men is above this rate in 14 provinces. Statistics published by the Statistical Center show that the unemployment rate for young men in the previous autumn was 18.5%, while this rate for women across Iran was 28.9%. Several experts and analysts point out that despite numerous promises from senior officials of the Islamic Republic regarding 'millions of jobs' creation, official statistics indicate the widespread unemployment among Iranian youth. Accordingly, they reference official statistics, stating that '42.8%' of the total unemployed population in the country consists of 'higher education graduates,' with a significant portion being 'educated rural women.' Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has consistently promised to create 'one million jobs annually' since mid-June 2021 and this slogan has been reiterated by his Minister of Labor, Solat Mortazavi, facing considerable backlash. Experts have repeatedly emphasized that governments in the Islamic Republic manipulate indicators or shift temporal bases, effectively engaging in statistical fabrication. The year has once again been designated as economic; 'Production Leap with the Participation of the People' alongside anti-production policies. A sociologist noted that the government has also included 'female school managers' in the statistics of women's participation in management. The misery index has increased in 25 provinces of Iran, with the implications of atypical wages; workers remain unemployed but do not work for low wages.