The Central Organization for Statistics and Information Technology in the Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation
Confirmation of the Employment and Unemployment survey results for the year 2008

Iraqi newspapers circulated the recent newspaper report included distrust of one Iraqi economic expert about the proportions which released by the Central organization for Statistics and Information Technology on the unemployment rates in Iraq... We in the same time when appreciate such views about reports issuing by COSIT on various aspects of life... We would like to demonstrate the following facts regarding the results of the Employment and Unemployment survey had been implemented in Iraq in 2008: -

First: All works achieved by COSIT distinguished by the accuracy, credibility and high reliability for the reason that COSIT follow the scientific statistical basis in the implementation of all its survey, including employment and unemployment survey, which starts from the precise scientific selection of the sample, which must be represented society and come in close contact  in reality, where the volume of the sample reached(18144) households distributed all of Iraq's governorates, including governorate’s centers, rural and suburbs, that is mean the sample included all regions of the governorates, on the other hand, the Central Organization for Statistics never release the results unless performs a series of statistical tests on the results to be confirmed a high degree of accuracy.

Second: This survey was carried out by a method depends for the first time and taking into consideration the seasonal matter into measurement of employment and unemployment, it is known that the phenomenon of employment or unemployment are influenced significantly by seasonal for this reason the survey was carried out on four seasons and in each season, it was recycled the sample by 50%, this method gives larger credibility for the results.
 
Third: COSIT began implementation of this survey since 2003 for its strong interest in measuring and follow-up of unemployment indicator in Iraq because COSIT aware of importance of this indicator in the economic activity, unemployment levels has reached for the years of 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, which is respectively, 28.1%, 26.8%, 17.97%, 17.50% and 15.43%.
 
Fourth: There is some views regard that the unemployment rates are higher than these rates, sometimes up to 40% and possibly more, with our appreciation to all these views which are not accurate and not scientific based on descriptive judgments, on the other hand, we need to know the definition of the unemployment concept and define who is the unemployed, is the person who had no work and looking for work and ready for working, if the person worked for one hour a week before the implementation of the survey, he does not consider unemployed as the concept adopted by COSIT that is an international concept adopted by the International Labor Organization, but COSIT demonstrated throughout the past years, the rise of under-employment rates (i.e. working at few hours of work), as COSIT reports confirmed that rate of underemployment in the years of 2003 - 2008 remained on the range of 30% which that represented a form of unemployment, if the concept means any person can not find job in the State, this is a wrong concept  because of no country in the world can provide jobs for the all unemployed in its organizations and offices, and this is what Dr. Haidar Al-Abadi, the deputy in the Iraqi parliament on this issue and his warning from the adoption of the State of the idea of creating employment opportunities for all the unemployed in its establishments, , which will lead to burden the phenomenon of hidden unemployment, which is not serve the growth and development of the economy. In conclusion, the Central Organization for Statistics and Information Technology expresses its thanks and appreciation to all researchers and professionals who are follow COSIT publications and welcomes all views.