Determinants of Labour Demand in Iraq for the Period (2004-2022)

Abstract

The research aims to analyze the factors affecting labour demand in the Iraqi economy during the period (2004-2022). To achieve this goal, the research used the deductive approach by using theoretical literature to analyze and study labour demand and variables affecting labour demand in economic theory, while in the applied part, it was from an analytical aspect of labour market data in Iraq. The research reached a main conclusion that "the reason for maintaining labor demand is due to the weak operational flexibility of most sectors in the Iraqi economy, especially the oil and agricultural sectors and the manufacturing sector, which led to the concentration of most of the labor force in the organized and unorganized services sector, which is characterized by high operational flexibility compared to those sectors. "The study recommended the necessity of focusing employment policies on creating job opportunities for the unemployed and increasing employment levels by taking measures to encourage private sector activities in areas such as agriculture, industry, technology, services and informal sector activities to increase the level of demand for work in Iraq, provided that these policies are based on the results of scientific studies that have undertaken the task of measuring and identifying the factors affecting the demand for work and measuring the operational flexibility of production and service activities.