Iraq Moves to Tackle Unemployment Through Cross-Ministerial Coordination, Says Planning Minister

Iraq's Planning Ministry's media office

Minister of Planning Khalid Battal al-Najm.

Minister of Planning Khalid Battal al-Najm has said the Iraqi government already possesses detailed data on poverty and unemployment, stressing that coordinated action between key ministries is underway to address both challenges more effectively.

Speaking at the first scientific conference on unemployment and poverty in Iraq, held under the theme “Integrating Knowledge and Policies: Towards Fair and Sustainable Impactful Solutions”, al-Najm described the timing of the event as significant, particularly in the wake of the country’s recent population census.

He said cooperation between the Ministries of Planning, Labour, and Higher Education represents an important step forward in tackling structural economic issues. According to al-Najm, further coordination under the Ministerial Council for Human Development in the next phase of government work would strengthen efforts to better identify and respond to national challenges.

The minister emphasised that relevant ministries and researchers now bear responsibility for presenting practical, data-driven proposals to decision-makers. He underlined that poverty and unemployment are closely linked and have a direct impact on Iraq’s broader development path.

Al-Najm also warned that Iraq is approaching what he described as a “demographic dividend” phase, which presents both opportunities and serious challenges. He noted that rapid population growth will place increasing pressure on the labour market, particularly in relation to job creation.

He estimated that Iraq’s population could reach approximately 73 million by 2050, while warning that the public sector alone is unable to absorb the growing workforce.

He further revealed that Iraq currently has around four million public sector employees, adding that approximately 62 per cent of them work within security and military institutions. He suggested that this imbalance highlights the need for a comprehensive review of public sector structure and employment distribution.

Describing the issue as complex and interconnected, the minister called for deeper academic and policy analysis, stressing that the conference should serve as a national platform for dialogue between experts and institutions.

He concluded by urging stronger coordination between the Ministries of Planning, Higher Education, Labour, and Social Affairs, alongside expanded research efforts aimed at identifying weaknesses and developing sustainable solutions to reduce unemployment and poverty in Iraq.



PUKMEDIA