Unemployment is one of the most important economic damages that not only has economic consequences, but also has numerous political and cultural repercussions. For this reason, it has always been one of the main concerns and demands of the people in all countries and societies, and has been a responsibility and priority for government officials. In fact, being a part of society, fulfilling duties, and taking on social roles by individuals first and foremost requires meeting their basic material needs, which in turn requires having a job and providing suitable employment opportunities in society. If this is not achieved in society, then various problems and issues will plague the community. The importance of job creation is such that it is mentioned in the twenty-second article of the Constitution among the rights of dignity, life, property, rights, and housing, and is considered inviolable. Additionally, in the twenty-eighth article, having a desired job is recognized as a right for individuals, and the government is obligated to create equal employment opportunities for all individuals.

Various indicators that have been published about development and the level of access to economic facilities in the country show the underdevelopment and deprivation of Kurdistan province and even all Kurdish regions compared to other provinces. This is especially evident in economic indicators. For example, comparing the official unemployment rate published by official institutions reveals a significant and obvious discrimination and lack of planning towards Kurdistan, as in 2012, this province had the highest unemployment rate after Ilam and Kermanshah. It is obvious that the high unemployment rate has led to an increase in other social, political, and economic issues, and the continuation of this high rate in the province shows that government officials and planners, although they claim to consider unemployment as one of the main issues in Kurdistan, do not have a serious plan, determination, or will to solve this problem. The plans that have been implemented so far have also been ineffective.

One of the reasons for the high unemployment rate and one of the prerequisites for planning to reduce it is the existence of accurate statistics on its causes. Without understanding and awareness of a problem, one can never take steps towards solving it. The figures presented for the unemployment rate in Kurdistan province – if we don’t call them misleading – at best indicate a lack of accurate understanding of this issue. The Statistical Center of Iran has announced the unemployment rate in Kurdistan in the winter of 2013 as 8.15% and in the spring of 2014 as 4.10%. The governor and his advisor consider the unemployment rate to be higher than 28%, and the deputy for human resource development in the governor’s office believes it to be over 35%. These statistics show that there is no accurate understanding of the unemployment rate in Kurdistan or it is possible that accurate statistics are not being announced, as the Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade has stated that it is possible for false statistics to

The proposed solutions also seem very incomplete in this regard: efforts to attract foreign investment and the private sector and strengthen small businesses are among the most important government strategies mentioned in Kurdistan province. Attracting foreign investment and the private sector requires suitable infrastructure such as advanced and large industries, roads, airports, a sound and efficient administrative system, and banking system, but there seems to be no specific and targeted plan in this regard. The expansion of small businesses also requires large-scale actions that should have been done before and provided the groundwork for entrepreneurship. Otherwise, the new officials will also be forced – like the previous government (according to the Minister of Industry and Economy) – to announce false statistics to deceive the public and justify their incompetence and failure.

The current occupation in Kurdistan is not only the result of government programs, but also the initiative of the people of Kurdistan and their natural talents, as well as the international situation. There is potential for the expansion and strengthening of tourism in Kurdistan, but the necessary infrastructure is not yet in place. Kurdistan is rich in various mines, but not only have these mines not created employment for the people of Kurdistan, they have also become a source of rent for some influential individuals, and the ownership documents are not clear. The natural environment, as a tourist attraction, is being severely destroyed and is on the verge of destruction. For example, the forests of Marivan and the Bel spring are being destroyed, and no serious action is being taken in these cases. Many factories and economic enterprises in industrial towns are either inactive or their owners are facing significant economic problems. All of these indicate that the solution to the problem of unemployment is not clear, and there is no specific plan for the most important economic issue in Kurdistan

Sources:

The website of Fararu, August 10th, 1393.

2- Etemad News and Analysis Base, August 1st, 2014