In Chapter 6, we introduced the generation that was born after the 1979 revolution in Iran and which is now aged below 35 years. Being young in Iran is not easy. Generally, feelings of frustration and powerlessness towards the political system, the flourishing corruption and the fast growing inflation rate, have been steadily growing among the youth. The difficult situation that the young generation is currently facing will be the main topic of this chapter.
It is hard to find a job
There are very low employment prospects for the young generation, both in the capital and in the whole country. Among those aged between 15 and 24 years, about 23 percent is unemployed, which is the 44th highest youth unemployment rate in the world. Having a bachelor or master degree makes it maybe slighly easier to find a job, but it still remains a difficult task overall. On average, it takes about three years for graduates to find a job.
The situation is even more difficult for young women. In 2008, the unemployment rate among young men rose to 23 percent. While for young women, it was nearly 48 percent ! At the moment, the female youth unemployment rate still remains at approximately 50 percent, thus twice as high as men. By their late 20s, usually 80 percent of female job seekers are still unemployed.Education
These two graphs show the educational level attained by women and men, from 25 to 34 years old. Generally, there are more women with a bachelor degree than men. That young men stop earlier with education constitutes quite a problem recently in Iran. First, the number of marriages has been dropping given that well educated women usually are less interested in being with less educated men.
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| Figure 1: Educational levels for men and women (source: statistical centre of Iran) |
There is clearly a change in the Iranian society since the 1980s. The young population is currently undergoing a values and cultural crisis, also called sex crisis. The family and religion remain still very important, but there is generally a desire for change.
Becoming independent
As a consequence of the difficulty of finding a job, many young adults have had problems affording the costs of living independently. Up to three quarters of the Iranians in their twenties are still living at their parents' home. Also, there have been less or later mariages.
Also, another very important issue next to no or later marriages for the Iran’s youth is that, with the low employment possibilities available and the housing shortage, many young adults cannot afford living independently. Up to three quarters of the Iranians in their twenties are still living at their parents’ home.
To sum up, one could say that the whole situation is characterized by ‘waithood’ - long waiting times for a first regular job, also later marriages, and a long waiting time before being able to live independently.
These problems have contributed to a rising frustration for many among Iran’s young population. This has led a large number to consider emigration to other countries, such as the USA and Europe. According to a recent study, about a third of the 16-25 year-old would be ready to leave the country if given the opportunity. Those are generally well or highly educated and have a relatively high level of distrust towards the state institutions (part of the mainstream or non-traditionalist youth groups).
In 2006, Iran was identified by the IMF as one of the countries with the highest level of brain drain in the world.
Sources:
>> Iran has a new president. Read about it in the next post !
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| Figure 2: Percentage of youth (20-30) staying at their parents' home (own illustration) |
Also, another very important issue next to no or later marriages for the Iran’s youth is that, with the low employment possibilities available and the housing shortage, many young adults cannot afford living independently. Up to three quarters of the Iranians in their twenties are still living at their parents’ home.
To sum up, one could say that the whole situation is characterized by ‘waithood’ - long waiting times for a first regular job, also later marriages, and a long waiting time before being able to live independently.
The whole situation is characterized by ‘waithood’ - long waiting times for a first regular job, for marriages, and for living independently. (source: Salehi-Isfahani, 2010)
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(source: TehranDailyPhoto.com)
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Emigration as a Solution
These problems have contributed to a rising frustration for many among Iran’s young population. This has led a large number to consider emigration to other countries, such as the USA and Europe. According to a recent study, about a third of the 16-25 year-old would be ready to leave the country if given the opportunity. Those are generally well or highly educated and have a relatively high level of distrust towards the state institutions (part of the mainstream or non-traditionalist youth groups).
In 2006, Iran was identified by the IMF as one of the countries with the highest level of brain drain in the world.
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| Figure 3: Youth leaving the country (source: Debeljak, 2013) |
- Debeljak, K. (2013). Youth in Iran: A Stroy Half-Told. Values, Priorities and Perspectives of Iranian Youth. Young Publics Research Paper Series, No.1 - Iran. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
- Salehi-Isfahani, D. (2010). Iranian Youth in Times of Economic Crisis. The Dubai Initiative, Working Paper No.3.
- The Brookings Institution (2008). The Youth of Iran.- Memarian, O. & Nesvadderani, T. (n.a.). The Youth. Retrieved June 19, 2013 from the official website of the United States Institutes of Peace (USIP).>> Iran has a new president. Read about it in the next post !
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