Degree but no job: The battle against unemployment in Gaza

Young university graduates in Gaza are confronting a labour market devastated by ongoing conflict and pre-existing economic hardship. Rawan al-Jabali, who completed a degree in English language and literature with a translation focus at the Islamic University of Gaza two years ago, has spent that entire period searching unsuccessfully for employment. The closure of institutions where she could have worked has eliminated opportunities in her field, forcing her to pursue any available position while managing displacement and infrastructure challenges including weak internet connectivity and electricity cuts.

Mohammed al-Khudari, an engineering graduate from the same institution, faces comparable circumstances. Despite his technical qualification, he spends extended periods browsing job listings on his phone while struggling with basic connectivity. Like many graduates, he has begun applying for positions across unrelated sectors—cafes, restaurants, cleaning work—prioritizing income generation over field-specific employment. Both individuals emphasize that survival and family support have become more pressing than securing roles aligned with their education.

The unemployment crisis reflects broader economic devastation across Gaza. According to the Government Media Office, approximately 80 percent of Palestinians in the territory lack employment. The enclave's gross domestic product has contracted by more than 82 percent since the conflict began in October 2023, while the poverty rate now exceeds 93 percent. Border closures, bombing campaigns, and widespread famine have effectively halted normal economic activity, leaving graduates and other workers with severely constrained options for securing livelihoods.