Cover
Volume 7, Special Issue 3 (2026)

Published: July 31, 2026

Pages: 170-183

Research articles

Analyzing the gap between educational outputs and labor market requirements: potential for alignment

Hussein A. Abd 1
1Imam Al-Kadhim university college (IKU), Baghdad, Iraq
History
  • Received: May 20, 2026
  • Revised: June 25, 2026
  • Accepted: July 1, 2026
  • Available Online: July 25, 2026
DOI

https://doi.org/10.56967/ejfb2026911

Abstract

Education has consistently been a prerequisite for employment in a variety of positions. Nevertheless, this can be a problem and exacerbate unemployment in societies if it becomes an obstacle or if there is an overabundance in certain disciplines. To enable to design practical remedies that can be performed in both the near and long term, it studies the reasons for it and evaluates its data within Iraq. The framework of job possibilities in Iraq is also the subject of this study, and the level to which it enables job candidates of both gender with various degrees of educational attainment. It also evaluates the capacity of both the public and private industries to attract and retain this demographic, as well as the potential challenges and solutions, particularly in light of the challenging security, political, and economic conditions that Iraq has experienced. The inductive method was used through data analysis to reach the conclusions. Data was collected from multiple sources, including the International Labour Organization, the World Bank, and statistics and reports issued by official Iraqi bodies. This research covers the period following 2003, with particular emphasis on 2020 and 2021, drawing on the most recent available data. These two years reflect Iraq's economic reality more than two decades after that turning point, and they help illuminate the persistent gap between labor market requirements and educational outputs—a gap that has given rise to numerous structural problems in the economy, unemployment chief among them. The research problem lies in the disconnect between educational outputs and labor market needs, which has worsened in recent years as a result of a lack of economic diversification and the limited capacity of the private sector to absorb graduates. The significance of the research is derived from the fact that it addresses a crisis that is deeply ingrained in Iraqi society and necessitates solutions. There have been numerous issues related to occupation and the increase in the proportion of jobless

Keywords

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