“We need to work harder to reduce poverty across Kurdistan,” says Deputy Minister of Planning
The Deputy Minister of Planning in the Kurdistan Region has announced that the poverty rate stands at 8.6%, significantly lower than the 19.5% recorded in the rest of Iraq. He emphasized the need for continued efforts to further reduce poverty levels.
A member of the Erbil Provincial Council also confirmed that poverty in Kurdistan is much lower compared to the rest of Iraq and highlighted that the Region holds strong potential for job creation.
According to data obtained by The Kurdish Globe, from 2019 to 2025, the government has created a substantial number of job opportunities across the provinces. These efforts were coordinated by the Employment and Career Guidance Directorate in the private sector:
• Erbil Province: 7,823 job opportunities created — 6,287 for men and 1,536 for women. Of those, 1,250 people are currently employed.
• Sulaymaniyah: 2,384 opportunities identified; 1,036 are employed.
• Duhok: 2,826 opportunities identified; 580 are employed.
• Halabja: 41 opportunities identified; 15 are employed.
In addition to these figures, the Region’s strategic projects, factories, industries, and various development initiatives have significantly boosted the available workforce compared to other parts of Iraq.
Kanan Khaylani, member of the Erbil Provincial Council, told The Kurdish Globe: “The strength of the government’s strategy lies in how many job opportunities it can generate for the public. This is based on up-to-date data from the Ministry of Planning and other relevant ministries. The aim is to provide equal opportunities to citizens while supporting steady economic growth within a structured strategy.”
He further stressed the importance of prioritizing the domestic workforce, stating that current levels—roughly 70% local employment in projects—should be increased even further across the Region.
Sirwan Mohammed, Deputy Minister of Planning, explained that this overall strategy is designed to reduce poverty and create long-term stability. “The poverty rate in the Kurdistan Region was 8.6% according to the latest Ministry of Planning survey, while in Iraq it was 19.5%. We still need to work harder to reduce poverty across the Region.”
He emphasized that the strategy’s main pillar is the ability to continue delivering public services during crises.
The Deputy Minister also noted that the European Union has provided strong financial support to development projects, in cooperation with UN agencies such as UNICEF, DFP, UNHCR, and representatives from the World Bank.
He concluded by stating that future projects will focus on expanding the labor market and increasing workforce participation across all sectors of the Kurdistan Region.
The Kurdish Globe