Download the full Iraq Employment Outlook Report for 2026 from our independent survey of thousands of employers across various industries.
Our comprehensive report covers:
Hiring intentions for the year ahead
Industry and size of organisations surveyed
A highlight of skill shortages across sectors
Expected changes to bonuses and pay
An insight into Learning and Development provision
This report is free for you to download and use.
Report purpose
Our 25-page report analyses the survey data to provide valuable insights for employers and employees, helping them navigate Iraq's current and future employment landscape.
Our survey questions were set to decipher the key factors influencing workforce trends for 2026, including economic, social and political considerations. This year, several challenges have emerged that continue to impact employment trends, including the disparity between the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) and the market USD-IQD exchange rates and the new regulations by the CBI regarding salary payments.
About the report's survey sample
The Iraq Employment Outlook 2026, conducted in the 1st quarter of 2026, is the most comprehensive and forward-looking employment survey, used nationwide as a key economic indicator. The Net Employment Outlook is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in hiring activity and subtracting from this the percentage of employers expecting a decrease in hiring activity.
Independent
The survey is conducted with a representative sample of employers from throughout Iraq. The survey participants are not derived from mselect's client base.
Robust
This sample allows for analysis to be performed across specific sectors and regions to provide more detailed information.
Focused
The survey centres around one main question: "How do you anticipate total employment at your location to change in the twelve months to the end of 2026 as compared to the previous year?”
Special thanks
We would like to thank the Iraq employers who took the time to answer our detailed survey. Your continued support of our yearly Iraq Employment Outlook Survey has provided crucial data to benefit meaningful workforce conversations across industries.
We also extend a special thanks to our team, who have spent a great deal of time analysing and presenting the report findings.
Previous Iraq Employment Outlook Reports
You can find previous annual report findings on the following pages: