Rise in Unemployment in Iraqi Kurdistan

By John Lee.

A spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region's Syndicate of Investors has told BasNews that unemployment has risen sharply over the last two years and is now estimated at 20-25 percent with 700,0000 people losing their jobs in the private sector.

But the Head of Sulaymaniyah Directorate of Statics, Mahmoud Othman, rejected the claims, saying:

"Unemployment was at 7% in 2013 and it grew to 10% by the end of 2014 ... but reliable statics are not available for 2015."

He insisted that even though the financial crisis has affected employers, and salaries are delayed, people are still working.

(Source: BasNews)

(Oil Worker image via Shutterstock)