Iran Statistics Center Reports Unemployment Rate of 12.6% in Spring
A report from Iran’s Statistics Center on the unemployment rate in spring of the current year shows that 12.6% of Iran’s potentially active population is unemployed.
According to Iran’s Statistics Center definitions, individuals aged 10 and above are considered part of the potentially active population. Based on this, the number of unemployed people in the country is estimated at approximately 3 million and 366 thousand.
The report states that the unemployment rate in the country increased by 0.4% compared to spring of last year and by 0.1% compared to last winter.
A week before this report, Ishaq Jahangiri, the First Vice President of Iran, stated the unemployment rate at 12% and the unemployment rate for educated individuals at above 25%.
In Iran’s Statistics Center report, unemployment among educated individuals is not differentiated, and only the unemployment rates for youth aged 15-24 and 15-29 are included.
Based on this, the unemployment population aged 15-24 is approximately 860 thousand people or 28.8%. The unemployment rate among the 15-29 age group is also 26.4%, which represents more than 1 million and 800 thousand people.
The Hassan Rouhani government recently issued a plan whereby 970 thousand jobs are created annually. Unemployment has been one of the major issues raised during Iran’s presidential election debates.
Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, one of the candidates in these elections, promised to create 5 million jobs, which Hassan Rouhani and some economic experts considered unrealistic.
Following the elections, the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic warned about the expansion of unemployment in Iran, stating that the unemployment problem is becoming critical.
In Iran’s Statistics Center report, Alborz province has the highest unemployment rate at 20.4%, followed by Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province at 20.3% unemployment and Kermanshah at 20.2%.
Markazi province has the lowest unemployment rate at 7.4%. The unemployment rate in Tehran province is estimated at 11.2%.
Source: Radio Farda
