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Labor Force Participation in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) Is Low

• Overall, just 38 percent of adults age 15 and older participate in the KRI labor force, with very low female participation driving the overall rate. This percentage is essentially the same in Jordan but is significantly lower in Turkey (~50 percent) and Egypt (~48 percent). Nearly 66 percent of men 15 years and older are in the labor force. However, only about 38 percent of males aged 15–24 are in the labor force, largely because many are still studying. Only about 6 percent of female youth participate.

The Unemployment Rate Compares Favorably with Most of the Middle East

• At 7.4 percent, the unemployment rate is not low but compares favorably with most countries of the Middle East region. The rate differs significantly between men (5.0 percent) and women (19.9 percent).
• Youth unemployment (ages 15–24) in the KRI is 17.6 percent, significantly higher than for the entire labor force. However, as with unemployment overall, youth unemployment in the KRI is among the lowest in the region. In the KRI, the unemployment rate for female youth is very high, at 48.9 percent, compared to 12.8 percent for young men.
• Public sector employment plays a dominant role in the economy, accounting for about half of all jobs. 51.4 percent of employment in the KRI can be characterized as being in the formal sector. The vast majority of working women are in the formal sector, almost all in the public sector.