Iraq youth unemployment rises to 35.8%, rights center says

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's youth unemployment rate has reached 35.8%, more than three times the adult rate, the Strategic Human Rights Center said in a Sunday statement, citing United Nations and International Labour Organization data. The center reported that young people account for about 37% of Iraq's population, with those under 25 making up roughly 60%. Female labor force participation stands at 10.6%, and the number of young people seeking work continues to grow each year, the center said. Iraq's Ministry of Planning put overall unemployment at 13%, while international sources projected a rate of 15.5% for 2025. Graduates, including engineers and doctors, have staged protests across the country demanding public-sector employment. The Federal Service Commission said government agencies are struggling to absorb the rising number of graduates, leaving thousands of doctors out of work. The center called for a comprehensive national youth employment program, including education reform, expanded vocational training, support for entrepreneurship and incentives for the private sector. No further details on a government response were immediately available.