Labor Force
In 2002 Iraq’s labor force was estimated at 6.8 million people.
In 1996 some 66.4 percent of the labor force worked in services, 17.5 percent in industry, and 16.1 percent in agriculture. 2004 estimates of Iraq’s unemployment ranged from 30 percent to 60 percent.
| Month | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2003-5 May | N/A |
| 2003-6 June | 50-60% |
| 2003-7 July | N/A |
| 2003-8 August | 50-60% |
| 2003-9 September | N/A |
| 2003-10 October | 40-50% |
| 2003-11 November | N/A |
| 2003-12 December | 45-55% |
| 2004-01 to 05 (January - May) | 30-45% |
| 2004-06 to 11 (June - November) | 30-40% |
| 2004-12 December | 28-40% |
| 2005-01 to 10 (January - October) | 27-40% |
| 2005-11 to 12 (November - December) | 25-40% |
| 2006-01 to 12 (January - December) | 25-40% |
| 2007-01 to 12 (January - December) | 25-40% |
| 2008-01 to 12 (January - December) | 25-40% |
| 2009-01 (January) | 23-38% |
The CPA has referred to a 25% unemployment rate, the Iraqi Ministry of Planning mentioned a 30% unemployment rate, whereas the Iraqi Ministry of Social Affairs claims it to be 48%. Other sources are claiming a 20% unemployment rate and a probably 60% under-employment rate. The actual figure is problematic because of high participation in black-market activities and poor security conditions in many populous areas. In central Iraq, security concerns discouraged the hiring of new workers and the resumption of regular work schedules. At the same time, the return of Iraqis from other countries increased the number of job seekers. In late 2004, most legitimate jobs were in the government, the army, the oil industry, and security-related enterprises. Under Saddam Hussein Hussein, many of the highest-paid workers were employed by the greatly overstaffed government, whose overthrow disrupted the input of these people to the economy. In 2004 the U.S. Agency for International Development committed US$1 billion for a worker-training program. In early 2004, the minimum wage was US$72 per month.
Mean wages were $2.10 per man-hour in 2009.
Read more about this topic: Economy Of Iraq
Famous quotes containing the words labor and/or force:
“The habits of our whole species fall into three great classes—useful labour, useless labour, and idleness. Of these the first only is meritorious; and to it all the products of labor rightfully belong; but the two latter, while they exist, are heavy pensioners upon the first, robbing it of a large portion of its just rights. The only remedy for this is to, as far as possible, drive useless labour and idleness out of existence.”
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
“Who shall set a limit to the influence of a human being? There are men, who, by their sympathetic attractions, carry nations with them, and lead the activity of the human race. And if there be such a tie, that, wherever the mind of man goes, nature will accompany him, perhaps there are men whose magnetisms are of that force to draw material and elemental powers, and, where they appear, immense instrumentalities organize around them.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)