Context
Almost two-thirds of Iraqis are under 25 years of age, and many are internally displaced persons or refugees from neighbouring countries. There are few job opportunities, and; 1 in 6 of the total workforce is unemployed.
Employment opportunities are dwindling in the country's two main employment sectors, the oil industry, and the public sector. Furthermore there has been slow development in the private sector which has exacerbated the situation.
Young Iraqis are increasingly interested in the field of information and communication technology (ICT) as a possible area of work. The technical prerequisites for this are in place with mobile broadband internet available almost nationwide, enabling flexible working. However, neither vocational training nor university curricula meet the labour market’s requirements. The founding of successful startups is still rare due to the lack of government support structures and insufficient access to loans or capital from investors.
Objective
Young job seekers in Iraq, are benefiting from superior employment prospects in the field of ICT and the evolving ecosystem in Iraq, in addition to enhancing the scientific skills of the youth.
The ecosystem for tech start-ups creates long-term job opportunities by pairing entrepreneurs with suitable investors, potential employers, and customers.
