The International Monetary Fund expects the unemployment rate in Iran to exceed 10% in 2022 and the following year.
In its latest World Economic Outlook report titled “War Sets Back Global Recovery”, IMF says unemployment in Iran is forecast to stand at 10.2% and 10.5% in 2022 and 2023, after experiencing a 9.8% in 2021.
Latest data released by the Statistical Center of Iran about the country’s labor market show Iran’s unemployment rate, the proportion of the jobless population of ages 15 and above, stood at 9.4% in the fourth quarter of last Iranian year (Dec. 22, 2021-March 20), indicating a 0.3% year-on-year decline.
A total of 2.4 million Iranians were unemployed in Q4. Men’s unemployment stood at 8.4% while the rate for women hovered around 14.9%.
Over 1.81 million men and 653,609 women of ages 15 and above were jobless in Q4.
The unemployment rate was 9.9% for urban areas (1.92 million people) and 8% for rural areas (487,103 people).
SCI put Q4 labor force participation rate — the proportion of the population of ages 15 and above that is economically active either employed or looking for a job — at 40.4% or 2.56 million people, registering a 0.5% decrease year-on-year.
Men’s and women’s economic participation rates were 68% and 12.8% respectively in the same period.