What countries of the Middle East experience the highest rates of unemployment? How about the lowest? What are some reasons for these patterns? Do you believe unemployment contributes to political problems in these areas?
2 thoughts on “Percent Unemployment”
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The Gaza Strip, Yemen, and the West Bank experience the highest rates of unemployment in the Middle East, while Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates experience the lowest. Low rates in the countries of the GCC can be directly to attributed to their oil wealth. Many Qataris, Kuwaitis, and Emiratis (citizens) either choose not to work (and therefore are not included in the unemployment figures) or have jobs with their country’s government. Government jobs in these countries are widely known to be “cushy,” with high salaries and a very flexible schedule of limited hours. Most of the workforce in these countries is foreign, and they have very strict deportation laws. If a foreign worker loses his job, he must leave the country within 10 days. There are no unemployment or retirement benefits for guest workers.
In Palestine and Yemen, there is a definite shortage of jobs. These are some of the poorest countries in the region, and economic growth is hindered by ongoing political turmoil. In Yemen especially, unemployment can be seen as a vicious circle. Unemployment contributes to political problems, but political problems also contribute to ongoing high unemployment. Frustrated Yemenis support the cause of insurgent groups, with hopes that a new government will better provide for them, but the violence that ensues further impedes economic development.
The highest rates of unemployment in the region are the regions of the Gaza Strip (with 42%) and the West Bank (19%), while the country with the highest rate of unemployment is Yemen (35%). The lowest rates of immigration in the region are Qatar (with .5%), Kuwait (2.2%), and the United Arab Emirates (2.4%). The previous set of countries (being the ones with the lowest levels of unemployment) are the richest in the region having some of the highest GDP per capita and being major exporters of petroleum.
Politically, the regions with the highest political instability are the ones with the highest rates of unemployment, the Gaza Strip having one of the toughest political situations with the distribution of power between Israel and Egypt, same thing as the West Bank and the conflict of Israelis and Palestinians.