Key Takeaways
- Iraq Unemployment and Labor Market Growth: Iraq’s unemployment rate stood at approximately 13% in early 2025, while over 780,000 new workers enter the labor market annually, intensifying competition for jobs in 2026.
- Recruitment Trends and Hiring Opportunities: Around 74% of surveyed Iraqi employers planned to maintain or expand their workforce in 2024, highlighting recruitment opportunities in construction, energy, infrastructure, and private-sector industries.
- Salary Trends and Workforce Challenges: Average monthly salaries in Iraq are estimated at IQD 900,000–1,050,000 in early 2026, while skills shortages, informal employment, and low female labor force participation remain major recruitment challenges.
Iraq’s recruitment market in 2026 faces significant challenges, with unemployment at approximately 13%, youth unemployment exceeding 32%, and over 780,000 new labor market entrants annually. Explore 103 recruitment statistics covering hiring trends, salary benchmarks, workforce demographics, skills shortages, labor regulations, and emerging employment opportunities across Iraq’s public and private sectors.
Iraq’s recruitment and employment landscape in 2026 is undergoing significant transformation, driven by rapid population growth, persistent unemployment, economic diversification efforts, evolving labor regulations, and increasing demand for skilled professionals. As one of the Middle East’s major oil-producing economies, Iraq presents a complex labor market characterized by substantial employment opportunities, structural workforce challenges, and growing pressure to develop a more competitive private sector.
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Understanding the latest recruitment statistics in Iraq in 2026 is essential for employers, recruiters, HR professionals, business owners, policymakers, foreign investors, and job seekers seeking to navigate the country’s changing employment environment. From youth unemployment and salary benchmarks to hiring trends, workforce demographics, labor force participation, and employment regulations, reliable labor market data provides valuable insights into how businesses can attract, recruit, and retain talent in Iraq.
According to figures reported by Iraq’s Ministry of Planning, the national unemployment rate declined to approximately 13% in early 2025, compared with around 16% in 2022. Despite this improvement, unemployment remains a major economic challenge, particularly among younger workers. World Bank and International Labour Organization estimates indicate that youth unemployment reached approximately 32.01% in 2025, highlighting the difficulties facing young Iraqis entering the workforce.
These employment challenges are becoming increasingly urgent as Iraq’s working-age population continues to expand. International Monetary Fund estimates suggest that more than 780,000 people enter Iraq’s labor market annually, while the working-age population is growing at approximately 3.5% per year. Furthermore, an estimated 9 million Iraqis are expected to reach working age between 2024 and 2033, creating substantial pressure on the government and private sector to generate sustainable employment opportunities.
For recruitment agencies and employers operating in Iraq, these demographic developments present both opportunities and challenges. Although the country has a large and expanding pool of potential candidates, businesses continue to encounter difficulties identifying qualified professionals with the technical expertise, industry experience, and specialized competencies required for modern workplaces.
Iraq’s Labor Market in 2026: Key Employment and Workforce Trends
One of the defining characteristics of Iraq’s employment market is the continued dominance of government employment. The country’s public sector employs approximately 3.7 million workers, making it one of the largest sources of formal employment. Government positions have traditionally attracted Iraqi job seekers because of their perceived job security, pension benefits, and stable compensation structures.
However, Iraq’s reliance on public-sector employment creates substantial fiscal and economic challenges. Government salaries and pensions reportedly account for nearly 40% of the federal budget, with annual expenditure exceeding $48 billion. This spending commitment limits the resources available for infrastructure investment, private-sector development, and initiatives designed to create sustainable jobs.
At the same time, informal employment remains widespread across Iraq’s economy. International Labour Organization data indicates that approximately 65% of employed workers operate in the informal economy, particularly in industries such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and small-scale commerce. The 2021 Iraqi Labour Force Survey identified approximately 5.73 million workers in informal employment, demonstrating the scale of the challenge facing labor market formalization.
For employers and recruitment professionals, these figures emphasize the importance of structured hiring practices, compliant employment contracts, competitive compensation, and stronger workforce protections.
Another significant issue is the gender imbalance in Iraq’s labor market. Historical ILO data recorded female labor force participation at approximately 11.76% in 2021, compared with around 74% for men. Female youth unemployment was estimated at 66% in the same period, illustrating the substantial barriers facing women seeking employment.
Improving women’s access to education, professional training, entrepreneurship, and formal employment could unlock considerable economic potential while expanding the country’s available talent pool.
Recruitment Trends and Hiring Opportunities in Iraq
Despite persistent structural challenges, Iraq’s recruitment industry continues to offer opportunities for businesses seeking to expand their operations and strengthen their workforce.
Employer surveys conducted by recruitment firm mselect provide valuable insights into hiring expectations across different regions of Iraq. Its 2024 Employment Outlook found that approximately 74% of surveyed employers expected to maintain or increase their workforce, while only around 7% anticipated workforce reductions.
Regional differences were particularly noticeable. Approximately 47% of employers in Central and Southern Iraq expected to increase hiring, compared with 32% in Northern Iraq. These differences reflect varying economic conditions, investment activity, infrastructure development, and political uncertainty across the country.
Looking toward 2026, recruitment activity remains closely connected to Iraq’s energy industry, infrastructure projects, telecommunications, construction, financial services, and broader private-sector development.
Although the oil sector remains a dominant contributor to national economic output and government revenue, it directly employed only approximately 0.7% of Iraq’s workforce in 2021, according to IMF calculations. This highlights the importance of developing labor-intensive industries capable of generating employment opportunities beyond oil extraction.
Businesses recruiting in Iraq must also address workforce skills gaps. Mselect’s 2024 Employment Outlook found that approximately 65% of employers had not enrolled employees in professional training programs during 2023. However, 56% planned to provide training in 2024, particularly in leadership, management, project management, and health, safety, and environmental practices.
These findings suggest that employee training, technical skills development, vocational education, and workforce upskilling will play increasingly important roles in Iraq’s recruitment market.
Salary Trends, Compensation and Employment Costs in Iraq
Salary expectations and employment costs are another important consideration for companies hiring in Iraq in 2026.
According to employer-of-record industry estimates, the average gross monthly salary in Iraq was approximately IQD 900,000 to IQD 1,050,000 (USD 690 to USD 800) in early 2026. Actual compensation varies considerably depending on industry, professional qualifications, seniority, employer type, and geographical location.
Minimum wage requirements also influence hiring costs. Employment guidance sources cite monthly minimum wage figures ranging from IQD 350,000 to IQD 450,000, reflecting differences in reported regulatory interpretations and applicable employment arrangements. Employers should confirm the current legal wage floor before establishing salary structures.
Beyond base salaries, businesses must account for statutory social security contributions, payroll taxation, employee benefits, overtime requirements, and other employment-related obligations.
Compensation planning is further complicated by exchange rate fluctuations and differences between official and market USD-IQD exchange rates. Mselect’s 2024 survey found that approximately 20% of employers had increased salaries to compensate for exchange rate differences, while 75% reported making no salary adjustments.
For international companies, recruitment agencies, and HR departments, understanding these salary trends is essential for developing competitive compensation packages, managing recruitment budgets, and retaining skilled employees.
The Future of Recruitment and Employment in Iraq
The long-term outlook for Iraq’s recruitment market will depend heavily on economic diversification, private-sector investment, workforce development, regulatory improvements, and the country’s ability to create productive employment opportunities.
International Monetary Fund analysis suggests that Iraq would need sustained annual GDP growth of approximately 5.5% over a decade to reduce unemployment to single digits by 2033. Achieving this objective would require improvements in governance, business regulations, financial infrastructure, labor market efficiency, and private-sector competitiveness.
Meanwhile, continued investment in infrastructure, education, digital transformation, energy development, and vocational training could create new opportunities for Iraqi workers and international employers.
The growing importance of digital and technical competencies may also influence how companies approach recruitment. Employers seeking specialized professionals will increasingly need to consider skills-based hiring, employee development programs, and partnerships with educational institutions to address talent shortages.
For recruitment agencies, these developments create opportunities to provide specialized talent acquisition services, workforce planning, executive search, recruitment process outsourcing, and employment compliance support.
However, Iraq’s employment landscape remains exposed to oil price fluctuations, public spending constraints, regional political developments, and regulatory uncertainty. Employers should therefore combine national labor market statistics with current industry-specific and regional data when making recruitment decisions.
What You Will Discover in These 103 Iraq Recruitment Statistics
This comprehensive guide to the Top 103 Recruitment Statistics, Data & Trends in Iraq in 2026 examines the most important quantitative indicators shaping the country’s hiring environment.
It covers unemployment rates, youth employment challenges, labor force participation, workforce demographics, government employment, informal labor, salary benchmarks, social security contributions, recruitment expectations, regional hiring differences, workforce training, employment legislation, foreign worker requirements, and economic growth projections.
The analysis draws on statistics and research from organizations including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, International Labour Organization, Iraq’s Ministry of Planning, Central Statistical Organisation, and recruitment industry surveys.
Because labor market indicators are published at different intervals, the guide incorporates historical observations, recent reported figures, and forward-looking projections relevant to 2026. These distinctions are important when interpreting Iraq’s recruitment trends and comparing employment conditions over time.
Whether you are an employer planning to hire employees in Iraq, an HR professional researching salary and recruitment benchmarks, a recruitment agency evaluating talent availability, an investor exploring business opportunities, or a job seeker seeking to understand the employment market, these 103 statistics provide a data-driven foundation for better decision-making.
Explore the latest Iraq recruitment statistics for 2026 to understand where employment opportunities are emerging, which workforce challenges remain unresolved, how hiring practices are evolving, and what the future may hold for recruitment and talent acquisition in Iraq.
Before we venture further into this article, we would like to share who we are and what we do.
About 9cv9
9cv9 is a business tech startup based in Singapore and in Asia, with a strong presence all over the world.
With over ten years of startup and business experience, and being highly involved in connecting with thousands of companies and startups, the 9cv9 team has access to some of the best talents in the world.
If your company needs recruitment and headhunting services to hire top-quality employees, you can use 9cv9 headhunting and recruitment services to hire top talents and candidates. Email us at hello@9cv9.com.
Top 103 Recruitment Statistics, Data & Trends in Iraq in 2026
UNEMPLOYMENT & LABOR FORCE OVERVIEW
1. 13% — Overall unemployment rate (early 2025)
Iraq’s national unemployment rate declined to approximately 13% in early 2025, down from 16% in 2022, according to Iraq’s Ministry of Planning — a modest improvement that nonetheless reflects a labor market still struggling to absorb its rapidly growing workforce.
2. ~15.55% — Unemployment rate (2022 national estimate)
The Central Statistical Organisation of Iraq recorded the national unemployment rate at 15.55% in 2022, representing one of the highest readings in the post-ISIS reconstruction era and underscoring the need for structural reform beyond oil-sector dependence.
3. 13–16% — Unemployment range (2025–2026 estimate)
Multiple credible sources, including Playroll’s 2026 Employer of Record guide, estimate Iraq’s unemployment at 13–16% heading into 2026, reflecting a wide margin of uncertainty tied to oil price volatility and regional security conditions.
4. 32.01% — Youth unemployment rate (ages 15–24, 2025)
According to the World Bank and FRED (St. Louis Fed), Iraq’s youth unemployment rate stood at 32.01% in 2025, more than double the national average and signaling a pronounced generational crisis in labor market inclusion.
5. ~20% — Youth unemployment per Iraq Ministry of Planning (early 2026)
The spokesperson for Iraq’s Ministry of Planning cited a youth unemployment figure of approximately 20% in early 2026 via Shafaq News, which, while lower than ILO modeled estimates, still reflects deeply entrenched structural barriers for young job seekers.
6. 22% — Male youth unemployment (ILOSTAT, 2021)
ILO data from 2021 estimated that 22% of male youth labor force participants were unemployed in Iraq — a figure that reveals a systemic failure to create sufficient private-sector jobs even for the more labor-market-engaged gender group.
7. 66% — Female youth unemployment (ILOSTAT, 2021)
An alarming 66% of female youth labor force participants were unemployed in Iraq per ILO estimates, reflecting compounding barriers of gender discrimination, low female participation, and a lack of targeted employment programs for women.
8. 11.76% — Female labor force participation rate (ILOSTAT, 2021)
Iraq’s female labor force participation rate stood at just 11.76% — one of the lowest globally — creating an enormous untapped productivity reserve that policy reforms in education, childcare, and workplace protections could help unlock.
9. 74% — Male labor force participation rate (ILOSTAT, 2021)
Male labor force participation in Iraq was 74% as of 2021, significantly higher than the female rate, illustrating a severe gender imbalance in economic activity that contributes to underutilization of the country’s total human capital.
10. ~42% — Overall labor force participation rate
Approximately 42% of Iraq’s population aged 15 and above participates in the labor force, according to data cited by the Iraqi Research Foundation for Analysis and Development, reflecting that a majority of the working-age population remains economically inactive.
LABOR MARKET SCALE & DEMOGRAPHICS
11. 780,000+ — New labor market entrants annually (IMF, 2024)
The IMF projects that over 780,000 individuals enter Iraq’s labor market every year, driven by one of the region’s fastest-growing working-age populations, placing extraordinary pressure on an economy whose job creation capacity remains far below this pace.
12. 3.5% — Annual working-age population growth rate
Iraq’s working-age population is expanding at 3.5% per year, according to the IMF, making it one of the fastest-growing labor forces in the MENA region and creating a demographic dividend that could become a liability without urgent economic reform.
13. 9 million — Young Iraqis expected to reach working age by 2033
Over 9 million Iraqis are projected to reach working age between 2024 and 2033, according to IMF estimates, meaning that the labor market challenge will intensify significantly if GDP growth and job creation do not accelerate meaningfully.
14. 46.4 million — Iraq’s population (early 2025)
Iraq’s population reached approximately 46.4 million in early 2025, with a dominant youth demographic that makes labor market reform not just an economic necessity but a social stability imperative.
15. 250,000 — University graduates entering the labor market annually
Iraq’s labor market absorbs approximately 250,000 university graduates per year, according to Shafaq News citing official sources, intensifying competition for a limited number of formal, qualified-skill positions across both public and private sectors.
16. ~3.7 million — Total public sector employees
Over 3.7 million individuals are employed in the Iraqi government sector, according to 9cv9’s 2025 salary analysis, representing one of the highest ratios of public employment to total population in the world.
17. 1 per 10 — Iraq’s public sector employment ratio (citizens per employee)
Iraq’s public sector employs one person for every 10 citizens — vastly exceeding international norms such as Germany’s ratio of 1 per 150, reflecting a bloated state employment model that creates unsustainable fiscal pressures.
18. 5.73 million — Workers in informal jobs (2021 Labour Force Survey)
The 2021 Iraqi Labour Force Survey revealed that 5.73 million workers — roughly two-thirds of the country’s total employed workforce — are engaged in informal employment with no formal contracts, social protection, or legal recourse.
19. ~65% — Share of workers in informal employment (two-thirds)
Approximately 65% of Iraq’s employed population works informally, according to the ILO, with sectors like construction, agriculture, and manufacturing particularly dominated by unregulated labor arrangements that leave workers exposed to exploitation.
20. 60.4% — Share of economically active citizens in population (2025 census data)
Iraq’s Ministry of Planning cited 60.4% of the population as economically active based on census data as of early 2025, a figure that suggests a broader workforce universe but one still constrained by participation barriers, especially for women and youth.
PUBLIC SECTOR DOMINANCE
21. ~65% — Government’s share of GDP
Iraq’s government controls approximately 65% of GDP, according to economic adviser Mudhhir Muhammad Salih cited in The Insight International (April 2025), underscoring the degree to which the state dominates economic activity and crowding out private investment.
22. 55% — Oil sector’s share of GDP
Oil extraction alone accounts for 55% of Iraq’s GDP per Trading Economics, illustrating the country’s extreme economic concentration in a single capital-intensive sector that generates comparatively few direct employment opportunities.
23. ~90% — Oil’s share of government revenues
Oil revenues constitute approximately 90% of Iraq’s government income according to multiple sources including Shafaq News and FocusEconomics, creating a dangerous fiscal dependency that limits room for investment in labor-intensive sectors.
24. 90% — Oil’s share of foreign exchange earnings (2024)
In 2024, oil provided 89–90% of Iraq’s foreign exchange earnings according to Wikipedia and FocusEconomics, making the currency, wages, and employment conditions across all sectors indirectly tied to global oil price movements.
25. ~40% — Federal budget share spent on salaries and pensions
Annual public expenditure on government salaries and pensions exceeds $48 billion, accounting for nearly 40% of the federal budget in 2024 according to 9cv9’s salary analysis, severely constraining resources available for capital investment and job-creating infrastructure.
26. 62% — Share of waged employees in the public sector (older data)
Approximately 62% of waged employees in Iraq were in the public sector according to earlier IRFAD labor studies, reflecting the private sector’s historical inability to compete with government job security, pension benefits, and perceived social status.
27. ~47% — Central and Southern Iraq employer hiring expectancy (2024 survey)
Mselect’s 2024 Iraq Employment Outlook found that 47% of employers in Central and Southern Iraq anticipated hiring increases, compared to only 32% in the North, reflecting starkly different economic conditions between Iraq’s oil-producing south and the politically uncertain Kurdistan region.
28. 74% — Share of employers maintaining or expanding workforce (2024)
Over 74% of surveyed employers in mselect’s 2024 Employment Outlook anticipated maintaining or increasing their current workforce levels, presenting a cautiously optimistic near-term hiring environment despite structural economic challenges.
SALARIES & COMPENSATION
29. IQD 900,000–1,050,000 (~USD 690–800) — Average gross monthly salary (early 2026)
The average gross monthly salary in Iraq stood at approximately IQD 900,000–1,050,000 (USD 690–800) as of early 2026 per Playroll’s EOR guide, with significant variation depending on sector, seniority, and geographic location.
30. IQD 350,000 (~USD 265–293) — Statutory minimum wage
Iraq’s statutory minimum wage is set at IQD 350,000 per month (effective since 2018 under Social Security Law), equivalent to approximately USD 265–293, though the minimum wage is neither regularly updated nor consistently enforced across the country.
31. IQD 450,000 (~USD 345) — Revised minimum wage cited (2026 sources)
Some 2026 sources, including Rivermate, cite a slightly higher minimum wage of IQD 450,000, reflecting incremental adjustments and the layered application of Social Security Law No. 18 of 2023, highlighting regulatory complexity in wage floors.
32. 12% — Standard employer social security contribution rate
Iraqi employers in most sectors contribute 12% of gross salary toward social security, covering health insurance, work injury benefits, and collective pension obligations, while employees contribute an additional 5% under the standard rate framework.
33. 25% — Oil & gas sector employer social security contribution
Employers in Iraq’s oil and gas sector face a higher mandatory social security contribution rate of 25% of employee wages, according to Airswift’s hiring guide and PwC’s Doing Business in Iraq 2025, reflecting the sector’s capacity and special regulatory status.
34. 5% — Employee social security contribution rate
All employees across sectors contribute 5% of their gross salary to the social security fund, creating a mandatory savings mechanism that nonetheless leaves vast informal-sector workers without any pension or health coverage.
35. 4–6% — Annual consumer price inflation (late 2025–early 2026)
Inflation in Iraq is running at approximately 4–6% annually heading into 2026 according to Playroll, putting real wage pressure on workers while requiring employers to consider cost-of-living adjustments to retain talent.
36. $48 billion+ — Annual public expenditure on salaries and pensions
The Iraqi federal government spends over $48 billion per year on civil servant salaries and pensions, a fiscal commitment that consumes approximately 40% of the national budget and limits the state’s capacity to fund investment-led job creation.
37. 10 months only — Kurdistan Region public salary payment (2025)
In 2025, public sector employees in Kurdistan reportedly received only 10 months of salary payments, as cited in 9cv9’s 2026 salary guide, highlighting financial instability in regional government employment that undermines its attractiveness as a career option.
38. 20% — Share of employers increasing salaries to offset exchange rate gap (2024)
Mselect’s 2024 Employment Outlook found that 20% of employers increased salaries to compensate for the gap between the official Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) and market USD-IQD exchange rates, reflecting the real-world cost of monetary policy on compensation planning.
39. 75% — Share of employers making no salary changes in 2024
Three-quarters of employers (75%) made no changes to salaries in 2024 according to mselect, reflecting wage stagnation in the face of cost pressures — a significant headwind for worker purchasing power and labor market competitiveness.
40. 75% — Share of companies providing no bonuses in 2023
Nearly 75% of companies did not provide bonuses in 2023, per mselect’s 2024 Iraq Employment Outlook report, illustrating how supplemental compensation remains an exception rather than a norm in Iraq’s employment market.
INFORMALITY & GOVERNANCE
41. 68% — Male workers in informal employment
68% of male workers in Iraq hold informal jobs according to ILO data from its 2024 publication, compared to 44% of female workers, with the gender disparity partly explained by women’s greater concentration in public-sector formal roles.
42. 44% — Female workers in informal employment
While female labor force participation is low, 44% of those who are employed work informally, according to ILO 2024, underscoring that even women who enter the workforce often do so without job protections or social security coverage.
43. 57% — Share of Iraq’s informality gap explained by governance quality
IMF Staff Country Report 2024 found that approximately 57% of Iraq’s excess informality relative to advanced economies is attributable to lower governance quality, meaning corruption, regulatory capture, and weak institutions drive the informal economy more than economic factors alone.
44. 20% — Share of informality gap explained by business regulation and tax burden
Business regulation complexity and tax burden together account for another 20% of Iraq’s informality gap compared to advanced economies, per the IMF 2024 study, pointing to a need for streamlined regulatory frameworks to encourage formal employment.
45. 2.2 workers — Average size of informal business (including owner)
Informal businesses in Iraq average just 2.2 workers including the owner, according to a World Bank 2023 report cited in IBBC’s December 2024 analysis, revealing a micro-enterprise-dominated informal economy with limited growth potential or worker protections.
46. 53% — Share of Iraqi firms citing labor regulations as a business constraint
According to the World Bank’s Business Ready 2024 report, 53% of Iraqi firms identified labor regulations as a significant constraint to their operations, reflecting a tension between protective labor law frameworks and the practical needs of a developing-market employer base.
47. ~85% — Share of total money supply outside the banking system (mid-2025)
As of mid-2025, approximately 85% of Iraq’s total money supply remains outside the formal banking system, per 9cv9’s 2026 salary guide, severely complicating digital payroll adoption and creating a dual formal/informal wage payment environment.
SECTORAL EMPLOYMENT
48. 3.3% agriculture contribution to GDP but ~20% of employment
While agriculture contributes just 3.3% to Iraq’s GDP according to Wikipedia, it employs approximately a fifth of the labor force — a stark productivity gap that reflects the sector’s informality-heavy, low-wage, and seasonal character.
49. 33% — Services sector share of GDP
The services sector accounts for 33% of Iraq’s GDP per Trading Economics, with the largest sub-segments being community and social services (13%), finance and real estate (9%), and trade and hospitality (7%), all of which are growing as urbanization accelerates.
50. 8% — Manufacturing, construction, and utilities share of GDP
Manufacturing, construction, water, and electricity production combined account for approximately 8% of Iraq’s GDP, reflecting the economy’s limited industrialization and the challenge of creating skilled manufacturing employment outside the oil sector.
51. 4% — Agriculture, forestry, and fishing share of GDP
Agriculture contributes just 4% to national output per Trading Economics, despite historically covering 50–60% of Iraq’s arable land under cultivation, reflecting decades of underinvestment and conflict-driven agricultural disruption.
52. $243 billion — Nominal GDP (2023)
Iraq’s nominal GDP reached $243 billion in 2023 per FocusEconomics, placing it as the fifth-largest economy in the Arab world with a per capita figure of $6,248 — below the global average of $10,589 and highlighting significant room for productive capacity expansion.
53. $690 billion — GDP (PPP, 2025 estimate)
On a purchasing-power-parity basis, Iraq’s economy reached an estimated $690 billion in 2025 per Wikipedia/IFAD, making it the 51st largest globally and reflecting the meaningful size of an economy that nonetheless underperforms on human development and employment indicators.
54. 4.1–5.0% — Real GDP growth projected for 2025–2026
Iraq’s real GDP growth is projected between 4.1% and 5.0% for 2025–2026 according to 9cv9’s 2026 guide, supported primarily by oil production, though this growth fails to generate employment at the pace needed to absorb the growing workforce.
55. 5.1% — Projected average GDP growth for 2026–2027 (World Bank)
The World Bank projects average annual GDP growth of 5.1% for 2026–2027, supported by OPEC+ production cut unwinding, though this aggregate figure masks the non-oil sector’s more modest 3–4% growth potential under passive policy scenarios.
HIRING INTENTIONS & RECRUITMENT TRENDS
56. Q1 2026 — mselect Iraq Employment Outlook 2026 survey period
The mselect Iraq Employment Outlook 2026 survey was conducted in Q1 2026 — the most comprehensive annual employment survey in the country — using a representative national sample of employers to gauge hiring expectations for the full year.
57. Net Employment Outlook — Key indicator for 2026
The Net Employment Outlook (NEO) derived from mselect’s 2026 survey represents the percentage of employers expecting to increase hiring minus those expecting decreases, serving as a primary macroeconomic indicator for Iraq’s near-term labor market trajectory.
58. USD-IQD exchange rate gap — Top recruitment challenge (2026)
The disparity between the Central Bank of Iraq’s official exchange rate and market USD-IQD rates was identified as a top ongoing challenge affecting hiring and salary decisions in the 2026 mselect Employment Outlook, particularly impacting multinationals and companies operating with USD-denominated contracts.
59. Central and Southern Iraq — Highest hiring activity zone
Employers in Central and Southern Iraq consistently record the highest hiring intentions due to proximity to federal government projects, energy sector investments, and large-scale infrastructure development initiatives, per mselect’s multi-year survey data.
60. Kurdistan (North) — Slower recruitment pace
The Kurdistan Region continues to show more subdued hiring compared to southern Iraq, attributed to political uncertainty, fiscal constraints on the regional government, and unresolved revenue-sharing disputes with Baghdad, as noted across mselect’s 2024–2026 surveys.
61. ~47% — Central/Southern Iraq hiring expectation (2024 survey)
In mselect’s 2024 Employment Outlook, 47% of employers in Central and Southern Iraq anticipated hiring increases — nearly 15 percentage points higher than the 32% recorded in the North — illustrating the geography of economic opportunity within the country.
62. 30% — Share of employers “undecided” on 2024 hiring
Approximately 30% of surveyed employers remained undecided on their 2024 hiring plans per mselect, reflecting the high uncertainty environment driven by oil price volatility, exchange rate policy, and infrastructure project timelines.
63. 7% — Share of employers anticipating workforce reductions (2024)
Only about 7% of employers anticipated reducing their workforce in 2024 per mselect’s survey, suggesting that while hiring expansion may be cautious, outright downsizing is not a dominant trend in Iraq’s formal employer landscape.
SKILLS, TRAINING & HUMAN CAPITAL
64. 65% — Employers not enrolling staff in any training (2023)
Approximately 65% of Iraqi employers did not enrol any workers in training or professional development programs in 2023 according to mselect’s 2024 Employment Outlook, pointing to a systemic underinvestment in human capital that compounds the skills mismatch problem.
65. 56% — Share of employers intending to provide training in 2024
For 2024, 56% of employers indicated plans to facilitate training courses for staff, with a focus on Leadership & Management, Project Management, and Health & Safety — sectors where international standards compliance drives employer investment.
66. Leadership & Management, Project Management, HSE — Top training categories (2024)
The most sought-after training categories among Iraqi employers for 2024 per mselect were Leadership & Management, Project Management, and Health, Safety & Environment — reflecting the skill sets required for Iraq’s infrastructure and energy-driven economic activity.
67. 78.5% — Adult literacy rate
Iraq’s adult literacy rate stands at approximately 78.5% per older IRFAD data, with the majority of Iraqis completing at least 10 years of schooling — a foundation for skills development that has yet to translate into productive formal employment at the needed scale.
68. Mandatory graduate hiring law — Distortion mechanism
Iraqi law mandates government hiring of all health sector graduates and a share of higher education graduates, per IMF 2024, creating a queue of young Iraqis preferring to wait years for public sector openings rather than seeking private employment — a significant market distortion.
69. Skill mismatch — Key structural challenge
The IMF’s 2024 Iraq labor market reform paper identified skill mismatch as a central obstacle, with educational systems producing graduates in fields not aligned with market demand, particularly in technical and digital skills that the private sector urgently needs.
70. Digital & technical skills — Priority for private sector
The IMF and ILO both identify digital literacy, technical training, and vocational skills as the highest-priority workforce development areas for Iraq, given that the country’s future job creation is expected to come from infrastructure, telecommunications, and energy technology sectors.
WORKING CONDITIONS & LEGAL FRAMEWORK
71. 48 hours — Standard working week
Iraq’s Labor Law prescribes a standard 48-hour working week (8 hours per day, 6 days per week), with mandatory breaks of at least 30 minutes for shifts exceeding 5 hours — among the longest legal working weeks in the MENA region.
72. 4 hours/day — Maximum overtime (non-industrial)
Overtime is capped at 4 hours per day and 12 hours per week for non-industrial workers under normal circumstances in Iraqi labor law, with industrial sector employees limited to 1 hour per day of overtime.
73. 6 hours — Reduced working day during Ramadan
Iraqi labor regulations mandate a reduced 6-hour working day during the holy month of Ramadan, a legally enshrined cultural accommodation that affects operational planning for all businesses and recruitment timelines during that period.
74. 3 months — Maximum probation period
Iraqi employers may place employees on probation for up to 3 months per Playroll’s 2026 EOR guide, a standard MENA-region provision that provides employers flexibility for early-stage employee assessment while remaining time-limited.
75. 15% — Withholding tax on non-resident companies
Foreign non-resident companies receiving income from Iraq face a 15% withholding tax, as outlined in PwC’s Doing Business in Iraq 2025, a cost that multinational firms must factor into the total economics of hiring and operating in-country.
76. 5% — Kurdistan Region corporate income tax rate
The Kurdistan Region maintains a fixed corporate income tax rate of 5% on taxable income per PwC, compared to the standard progressive national rate — making the region relatively more attractive for foreign business establishment despite political uncertainties.
77. 2 weeks per year of service — Statutory severance pay
Iraqi labor law entitles employees to severance pay of 2 weeks of wages for each year of service in the event of termination, with an additional provision of 2 months’ wages payable to the family in the event of an employee’s death after at least one year of service.
78. Arabic — Mandatory language for employment records (federal Iraq)
All employment and payroll records must be maintained in Arabic in federal Iraq per regulatory requirements, with Kurdistan as an exception where Kurdish-language documentation is also accepted — an important compliance consideration for international firms.
79. 11% per annum — Late income tax payment interest rate
Iraq imposes a late income tax payment interest rate of 11% per annum according to PwC’s 2025 Doing Business guide, while social security late payment fees are charged at 2% per month, creating significant cost incentives for payroll compliance.
80. Monthly by the 15th — Tax remittance deadline
All withheld income taxes and social security contributions must be remitted to Iraqi authorities by the 15th day of the following month, per Rivermate’s employment tax guide — a strict timeline that requires employers to maintain disciplined payroll processes.
ECONOMIC CONTEXT FOR HIRING
81. 5.5% GDP growth/year for 10 years — Required to achieve single-digit unemployment by 2033
The IMF estimates that reducing Iraq’s unemployment rate to single digits by 2033 would require sustained annual GDP growth of at least 5.5% — compared to the historical average of 4.3% since 2003 — an ambitious target given structural constraints.
82. Employment elasticity of growth: 0.7
Iraq’s employment elasticity of GDP growth is estimated at 0.7 by the IMF (2024), meaning each 1% of economic growth translates to approximately 0.7% employment growth — a moderate conversion rate that still requires very high GDP expansion to absorb 780,000+ annual entrants.
83. 1.25% — Average contribution of employment growth to overall GDP growth (2001 onwards)
Employment growth has contributed an average of 1.25% per annum to Iraq’s overall GDP growth since 2001, the IMF notes — a low figure given Iraq’s fast demographic growth, reflecting poor labor market institutions and the oil sector’s capital-intensive nature.
84. Iraq GDP per capita: $6,248 vs global average $10,589 (2023)
Iraq’s 2023 GDP per capita of $6,248 falls significantly below the global average of $10,589 according to FocusEconomics, indicating that while the economy is growing, the per-person benefits of oil wealth remain poorly distributed across the working population.
85. 4.5% improvement in growth potential — If structural reforms implemented
IMF modeling suggests that a balanced package of governance, labor, regulatory, and financial sector reforms could improve Iraq’s growth rate by 4.5 percentage points over the medium term — a transformational figure that underscores the reform dividend available.
86. $7 billion — Foreign direct investment attracted by Iraq Development Fund (by early 2025)
The Iraq Development Fund, established in August 2023, had attracted $7 billion in foreign direct investment and signed international MOUs by early 2025 according to Shull Solutions, representing a potential pipeline for private-sector job creation.
87. 790 new schools — Built in 2024
The Iraqi education system saw 790 new schools launched in 2024 per the World Bank and Shull Solutions, part of the National Education Strategy 2022–2031 aimed at improving human capital quality for the labor market pipeline of the late 2020s.
88. 3–4% — Non-oil potential growth under passive policy scenario (2024–2028)
Under a passive policy scenario, the World Bank and IMF project Iraq’s non-oil sector potential growth at 3–4% per annum through the late 2020s, insufficient to drive the employment generation needed to serve the 780,000+ annual new labor market entrants.
89. USD 270 billion — Nominal GDP estimate (2025)
Iraq’s nominal GDP is estimated at approximately $270 billion in 2025 according to Shull Solutions, with a per capita GDP of $5,900 — a baseline that positions Iraq as a mid-tier emerging market with significant room for productivity-led catch-up growth.
FOREIGN WORKER & VISA REQUIREMENTS
90. Work permit + Temporary Residence Permit — Required for all foreign workers
Foreign nationals working in Iraq must obtain both a work permit from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and a Temporary Residence Permit from the Ministry of Interior, per Playroll’s 2026 EOR guide — a dual-approval process that can take weeks to navigate.
91. 90 days + ~4x average income — Cost of legal building permit in Iraq (World Bank 2024)
The World Bank’s Business Ready 2024 report found that obtaining a legal building permit in Iraq takes approximately 90 days and costs nearly four times average monthly income — a regulatory burden that incentivizes informal market participation and delays project-based hiring.
92. Work permit required before engagement — Employer obligation
Iraqi labor law requires employers to notify local employment offices of vacancies before publicly advertising them, and workers must hold valid permits before engaging in any paid employment — a pre-hiring administrative layer that adds friction to the recruitment process.
REGIONAL & SECTOR COMPARISONS
93. Iraq ranks among top 10 Arab countries with highest unemployment (2025)
Trading Economics data cited by Shafaq News placed Iraq among the 10 Arab countries with the highest unemployment rates in 2025, a positioning that reflects both structural failures and the scale of demographic pressure relative to job creation capacity.
94. Oil sector employs only a limited share of the workforce despite 50% of GDP
The Iraqi oil sector contributes approximately 50% of GDP and nearly 90% of state revenues, yet employs only a small fraction of the workforce, per Shafaq News citing the PM’s economic adviser — a structural contradiction that defines Iraq’s employment problem.
95. IQD 1,750,000 — Social security salary cap for contributions
Under Social Security Law No. 18 of 2023, the maximum salary base for calculating social security contributions is capped at IQD 1,750,000 (five times the minimum wage), per Ramco’s payroll compliance guide, limiting both contributions and benefit entitlements for higher earners.
96. 8% additional contribution rate for non-oil sector employees (Social Security Law 2023)
Iraq’s Social Security Law No. 18 of 2023 introduced an additional 8% contribution rate for non-oil sector employees, to be paid by the government for Iraqi nationals and by the employer for expatriates — significantly increasing the cost of compliance for international firms.
97. ~6.6 months of import cover — Projected foreign reserve ratio by 2027
The World Bank forecasts Iraq’s foreign reserve-to-import ratio will decline to 6.6 months by 2027, reflecting fiscal deterioration tied to oil price uncertainty — a macroeconomic signal that indirectly constrains government capacity to fund public employment growth.
98. Employment informality surplus: Iraq vs advanced economies — governance explains 57%
The IMF’s 2024 labor market paper found that Iraq’s excess informality relative to advanced economies is primarily explained by governance quality (57%), with business regulation and tax burden accounting for another 20% — a finding that prioritizes anti-corruption and institutional reform as hiring market enablers.
99. ~1.9% — Average real GDP growth over the past decade (FocusEconomics)
Iraq’s average real GDP growth over the decade to 2024 was just 1.9% per FocusEconomics, a strikingly low figure for an oil-rich economy, reflecting the impact of ISIS conflict, oil price crashes, COVID-19, and political instability on employment-generating economic activity.
100. Social Protection — Cash transfers reach more than one-fifth of population
Iraq’s social protection cash transfer program reaches more than 20% of the population per the World Bank’s 2025–2026 economic update, serving as a safety net for the unemployed and underemployed but falling short of the comprehensive coverage needed to drive labor formalization.
101. 5 million+ workers not covered by social security
The ILO coordinator in Iraq stated that more than 5 million workers are not covered by social security and work in poor conditions, per the ILO’s October 2024 National Conference communiqué — a figure that represents nearly a third of the estimated workforce.
102. 47% female hiring outlook disparity — Higher reluctance in North
Regional disparities in willingness to hire women are particularly acute in the Kurdistan North (32% general hiring outlook) versus the more economically active Central and Southern regions (47%), per mselect data — though gender-disaggregated hiring data remains scarce.
103. 0.7% — Oil sector’s share of total employment (2021)
Despite its overwhelming dominance of GDP, the oil sector’s direct share of total employment was only approximately 0.7% in 2021 per IMF calculations, illustrating the paradox of Iraq’s most economically dominant sector being among its least labor-intensive.
Conclusion
The Top 103 Recruitment Statistics, Data & Trends in Iraq in 2026 reveal a labor market undergoing significant transformation, shaped by rapid population growth, persistent unemployment, public-sector dominance, economic diversification efforts, and increasing demand for skilled professionals. While Iraq continues to face substantial structural employment challenges, its expanding workforce, infrastructure investments, and emerging private-sector opportunities offer considerable potential for employers, recruitment agencies, HR professionals, investors, and job seekers.
One of the most important findings is the continued pressure on Iraq’s labor market from demographic growth. With more than 780,000 new workers entering the labor market annually and approximately 9 million Iraqis expected to reach working age between 2024 and 2033, the country faces an urgent need to accelerate sustainable job creation. Although the national unemployment rate reportedly declined to approximately 13% in early 2025, youth unemployment remained significantly higher, with international estimates placing it at approximately 32.01% in 2025.
These figures highlight the importance of strengthening Iraq’s private sector, improving education-to-employment pathways, expanding vocational training, and developing industries capable of absorbing a rapidly growing working-age population.
Another defining feature of Iraq’s recruitment landscape in 2026 is the substantial dependence on government employment. With approximately 3.7 million public-sector employees and government salaries and pensions consuming nearly 40% of the federal budget, Iraq’s traditional employment model faces increasing fiscal pressure. At the same time, approximately 65% of employed workers operate in the informal economy, demonstrating the urgent need for stronger labor protections, employment formalization, and improved access to social security.
For businesses recruiting in Iraq, these challenges reinforce the importance of compliant hiring practices, transparent employment contracts, competitive compensation structures, and long-term workforce planning.
Despite these structural difficulties, recruitment opportunities remain promising in several areas of the Iraqi economy. Historical employer surveys indicate that approximately 74% of surveyed companies expected to maintain or expand their workforce in 2024, with particularly strong hiring expectations in Central and Southern Iraq. Infrastructure development, construction, energy, telecommunications, financial services, and other private-sector activities could continue generating demand for qualified professionals as investment and economic development progress.
However, employers must recognize that labor availability does not automatically translate into access to job-ready talent. Skills mismatches, limited professional training, and gaps between educational qualifications and employer requirements remain significant obstacles. The finding that approximately 65% of surveyed employers did not provide employee training in 2023 underscores the need for greater investment in workforce development.
Digital skills, technical expertise, leadership development, project management, and vocational training are likely to become increasingly important for organizations seeking to improve productivity and build competitive teams in Iraq.
Salary and compensation trends also deserve close attention. With estimated average gross monthly salaries ranging from IQD 900,000 to IQD 1,050,000 in early 2026, employers must balance competitive remuneration with payroll compliance, statutory contributions, inflationary pressures, and exchange rate fluctuations. Businesses operating across different Iraqi regions and industries should adopt compensation strategies that reflect local employment conditions, workforce expectations, and applicable labor regulations.
Gender inclusion represents another major opportunity for Iraq’s employment market. Historical labor force statistics showing female participation of approximately 11.76% in 2021 demonstrate the considerable potential to expand workforce participation through improved access to education, professional opportunities, flexible employment arrangements, and supportive workplace policies. Increasing women’s participation in formal employment could strengthen Iraq’s talent pool and contribute to broader economic development.
Looking ahead, the future of recruitment in Iraq beyond 2026 will depend on the country’s ability to diversify its economy, encourage private investment, improve governance, modernize employment regulations, and create sustainable jobs outside the public sector. International Monetary Fund estimates suggesting that Iraq requires sustained annual GDP growth of approximately 5.5% to achieve single-digit unemployment by 2033 illustrate the scale of the economic transformation required.
For employers and recruitment agencies, the implications are clear. Successful talent acquisition in Iraq will increasingly require a strategic combination of labor market intelligence, competitive salary benchmarking, skills-based recruitment, employee training, regulatory compliance, and effective talent retention practices. Organizations that understand regional hiring differences, anticipate workforce shortages, and invest in developing local talent will be better positioned to compete in Iraq’s evolving employment landscape.
For job seekers, the changing recruitment environment reinforces the value of developing industry-relevant qualifications, digital competencies, technical expertise, and transferable professional skills. As Iraq seeks to expand private-sector employment, candidates who align their capabilities with emerging business needs may gain access to a broader range of career opportunities.
Ultimately, these 103 Iraq recruitment statistics for 2026 demonstrate that the country possesses substantial human capital potential but must overcome significant structural barriers to achieve a more inclusive, productive, and sustainable labor market.
Although challenges involving youth unemployment, informal employment, public-sector dependency, gender inequality, and skills shortages remain substantial, Iraq’s young population and economic development ambitions provide a foundation for future workforce growth.
For businesses, recruiters, HR leaders, and investors, understanding Iraq’s latest hiring statistics, employment trends, salary data, and workforce developments is essential for making informed recruitment decisions and identifying long-term opportunities in one of the Middle East’s most complex and potentially rewarding labor markets.
As Iraq moves through 2026 and beyond, organizations that prioritize strategic workforce planning, talent development, ethical recruitment, and adaptability will be best positioned to contribute to and benefit from the country’s evolving employment economy.
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People Also Ask
What is the unemployment rate in Iraq in 2026?
Iraq’s unemployment rate was approximately 13% in early 2025, down from around 16% in 2022. Estimates heading into 2026 range between 13% and 16%, reflecting ongoing challenges in job creation and economic diversification.
What is the youth unemployment rate in Iraq in 2026?
Iraq’s youth unemployment rate reached approximately 32.01% in 2025, according to international estimates. High youth unemployment remains a major challenge as thousands of young Iraqis enter the workforce annually.
How many people enter Iraq’s labor market every year?
More than 780,000 people enter Iraq’s labor market annually, according to IMF estimates. This rapid workforce expansion increases pressure on employers, policymakers, and the private sector to create sustainable employment opportunities.
What is the average monthly salary in Iraq in 2026?
The estimated average gross monthly salary in Iraq ranges from IQD 900,000 to IQD 1,050,000, approximately USD 690–800, in early 2026. Salaries vary by industry, location, professional experience, and employer type.
What is the minimum wage in Iraq in 2026?
Iraq’s minimum wage is commonly cited as IQD 350,000 per month, although some 2026 employment guides report IQD 450,000. Employers should verify the applicable statutory wage requirements before hiring employees.
What are the major recruitment trends in Iraq in 2026?
Major recruitment trends in Iraq include private-sector hiring, growing demand for technical skills, workforce training, salary competitiveness, employment formalization, and recruitment opportunities in energy, construction, and infrastructure.
Which industries are hiring the most workers in Iraq?
Energy, construction, infrastructure, telecommunications, financial services, and related industries offer recruitment opportunities in Iraq. Hiring demand varies across regions and depends on investment activity and economic conditions.
How many people work in Iraq’s public sector?
Approximately 3.7 million people work in Iraq’s public sector. Government employment remains a major source of formal jobs, offering perceived stability, pensions, and benefits that attract many Iraqi job seekers.
What percentage of Iraqi workers are employed informally?
Approximately 65% of Iraq’s employed workforce operates in the informal economy. Informal employment is particularly common in agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and small businesses, often without formal contracts or social security.
What is the female labor force participation rate in Iraq?
Iraq’s female labor force participation rate was approximately 11.76% in 2021, compared with 74% for men. This significant gender gap highlights opportunities to improve women’s access to education, training, and formal employment.
What are the biggest recruitment challenges in Iraq?
Iraq’s main recruitment challenges include skills shortages, youth unemployment, informal employment, limited workforce training, public-sector dependency, regional hiring disparities, and difficulties matching graduates with employer requirements.
What is the labor force participation rate in Iraq?
Iraq’s overall labor force participation rate is estimated at approximately 42% among people aged 15 and older. Low female participation and limited formal employment opportunities contribute to the country’s workforce participation challenges.
How fast is Iraq’s working-age population growing?
Iraq’s working-age population is growing by approximately 3.5% annually, according to IMF estimates. This demographic expansion creates opportunities for economic growth but also increases the need for sustainable job creation.
How many university graduates enter Iraq’s job market annually?
Approximately 250,000 university graduates enter Iraq’s labor market annually. Competition for professional positions remains intense, particularly when graduates’ qualifications do not match private-sector employment requirements.
What percentage of Iraqi employers plan to increase hiring?
Mselect’s 2024 Employment Outlook found that approximately 74% of surveyed employers expected to maintain or increase their workforce. Hiring expectations were stronger in Central and Southern Iraq than in the North.
Which regions of Iraq have the strongest hiring outlook?
Central and Southern Iraq recorded stronger hiring expectations in mselect’s 2024 survey, with 47% of employers anticipating workforce expansion compared with 32% in Northern Iraq.
What skills are most in demand among Iraqi employers?
Important workforce skills in Iraq include leadership, project management, health and safety, digital literacy, technical expertise, and vocational competencies. Demand is influenced by infrastructure development and private-sector expansion.
How important is employee training in Iraq’s recruitment market?
Employee training is increasingly important as employers address workforce skills gaps. Mselect reported that 65% of surveyed employers provided no staff training in 2023, while 56% intended to offer training in 2024.
What is the standard working week in Iraq?
Iraq’s standard working week is generally 48 hours, consisting of eight hours daily over six days. Employers must also consider statutory rest periods, overtime limitations, and other applicable labor regulations.
What is the maximum probation period for employees in Iraq?
The maximum probation period in Iraq is generally three months, according to employment guidance sources. Employers use probation to evaluate employee performance and suitability while complying with applicable labor regulations.
What are the employer social security contribution rates in Iraq?
Standard employer social security contributions are reported at 12% of gross wages, while oil and gas employers may face a 25% rate. Additional contributions may apply depending on employee nationality and statutory requirements.
How much do employees contribute to social security in Iraq?
Employees generally contribute 5% of their gross salary to Iraq’s social security system. Employer contributions and additional statutory obligations depend on the sector, employee classification, and applicable regulations.
What percentage of Iraq’s GDP comes from the oil sector?
Oil accounts for approximately 55% of Iraq’s GDP in the cited economic estimates. Despite its economic dominance, the sector directly employed only about 0.7% of the workforce in 2021, highlighting limited direct job creation.
How does Iraq’s oil industry affect recruitment trends?
Iraq’s oil industry influences government revenues, infrastructure spending, salary expectations, and employment opportunities. However, its capital-intensive nature limits direct hiring, increasing the importance of non-oil industries.
What is the employment outlook for Iraq’s private sector in 2026?
Iraq’s private-sector employment outlook depends on economic diversification, investment, infrastructure development, and regulatory reforms. Construction, telecommunications, financial services, and technical industries offer potential hiring opportunities.
Why is youth unemployment so high in Iraq?
Youth unemployment in Iraq is driven by rapid population growth, insufficient private-sector job creation, skills mismatches, dependence on government employment, and limited opportunities for graduates entering the workforce.
How many Iraqi workers lack social security coverage?
More than 5 million workers in Iraq lack social security coverage, according to the ILO’s 2024 findings. Expanding formal employment and improving labor protections remain important priorities for workforce development.
What are the requirements for hiring foreign workers in Iraq?
Foreign workers generally require a valid work permit and temporary residence authorization before legally working in Iraq. Employers must follow applicable immigration, employment, and documentation requirements.
How will economic growth influence recruitment in Iraq?
Economic growth could support recruitment through infrastructure investment, private-sector development, and business expansion. IMF estimates suggest Iraq needs sustained annual GDP growth of approximately 5.5% to achieve single-digit unemployment by 2033.
What is the future of recruitment and hiring in Iraq beyond 2026?
Iraq’s recruitment future will depend on private-sector growth, economic diversification, workforce training, digital skills development, and employment reforms. Its expanding working-age population creates both significant hiring opportunities and job creation challenges.
Sources
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
World Bank
Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
ILOSTAT
mselect
Playroll
9cv9 Career Blog
FocusEconomics
Trading Economics
The Insight International
Shafaq News
Airswift
Rivermate
Ramco
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
Shull Solutions
Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC)
Frank R. Gunter
Wikipedia
Iraqi Research Foundation for Analysis and Development (IRFAD)
