Young graduates in Gaza face skyrocketing unemployment as Israel's war has devastated the job market.
Nuseirat, Gaza Strip – Rawan al-Jabali stares at her laptop screen, silently following a link to an online job posting. The internet is weak in the displaced people's camp where she is trying to work in central Gaza, so she is forced to refresh the page.
Opportunities for graduates like him are rare in Gaza. He graduated from the Islamic University of Gaza two years ago with a degree in English language and literature, specializing in translation. But since then, he has spent two years searching for a job in vain, while enduring Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinian enclave, which forced him and his family to move from northern Gaza to Nuseirat.
„"I studied translation because I believed I would have opportunities in this field, but after the war, most of the institutions where I could work disappeared," al-Jabali told Al Jazeera.
Rawan is one of the 80 percent of Palestinians in Gaza who are unemployed, according to the Government Media Office. Unemployment, fueled by the war and Gaza's already poor economic climate, has contributed to Gaza's poverty rate now exceeding 93 percent.
That's why, despite the exhaustion caused by power outages, poor internet, and difficult transportation, al-Jabali perseveres. He has to somehow provide for himself and his family.
Mohammed al-Khudari is in a similar situation. He also graduated from the Islamic University of Gaza, but studied engineering. What seemed like the beginning of a new journey on graduation day turned into a long, unsuccessful struggle, as the war – with its accompanying bombings, border closures and famine – completely shut down the job market.
Al-Khudari spends most of her days browsing job postings on her phone. „I spend long hours searching for available job opportunities, it’s hard to charge my phone or even maintain an internet connection, but I keep trying,” she said.
The fruitless search forced al-Khudari to be less picky. Although he has an engineering degree, that hasn't stopped him from looking for work in different fields. He's looking for anything he can find.
„I started applying for jobs in different sectors, such as cafes, restaurants and cleaning jobs, because the main goal became to secure an income that would allow me to support myself and my family and build a new beginning,” said al-Khudari. „Many graduates apply for any available job because circumstances force them to seek income rather than wait for a job related to their profession.”
Long-standing problems
Gaza's unemployment crisis goes hand in hand with the territory's broader economic problems. Economic data shows that the enclave's gross domestic product (GDP) has shrunk by more than 82 percent since the war that began in October 2023, in which Israel has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians.
The conflict, and in particular Israel's blockade of Gaza, has left around 80 percent of the population dependent on international humanitarian aid, while income sources have declined sharply and hunger is increasing.
Palestinian economic expert Mohammed Abu Yeiab explained that Gaza's labor market was already suffering from deep problems before the war, caused by the Israeli blockade imposed since 2007, when the Palestinian group Hamas took control of the enclave. These problems were further exacerbated by the war.
„This deterioration has led to serious economic and social consequences, including the erosion of human capital due to chronic unemployment and loss of skills, increased reliance on humanitarian aid rather than productive work, rising poverty rates, delayed social stability, and the potential for skilled labor to emigrate as opportunities arise,” Abu Jeiab pointed out.
Abu Jeiab stressed that addressing the crisis requires a comprehensive plan that starts with reconstruction as a key driver of job creation, supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship, investing in technology and remote work, aligning university education with labor market needs, expanding paid training programs for graduates, and creating a stable economic environment that encourages local and foreign investment.
But Gaza currently lacks a fully functioning government, is under frequent Israeli attacks despite an October ceasefire, and reconstruction is virtually non-existent. All of this means that job opportunities remain scarce. Yet there are community initiatives focused on helping people, especially young people.
One such space in Deir el-Balah is the „Peace Work Space,” which aims to provide a suitable working environment for students and graduates, with more reliable electricity and internet. Its founder, Mohammed al-Buheisi, said he opened the space in February 2024 in response to the urgent need of displaced Palestinians — many of whom moved to central Gaza after Israel forcibly expelled them from other areas — to find a place to work and study.
It was difficult to operate—the cost of essential equipment, such as solar panels, more than doubled—but he still managed to increase the number of people the center could accommodate. „We started with a small space that could only accommodate about 10 people, and we gradually expanded to about 80 people now,” al-Buheisi said.
Al-Buheisi explained that the space's reliable internet and power supply are not only a benefit for job seekers, but also for those who have found remote work or are taking exams and need a stable internet connection.
Against a backdrop of declining job opportunities, economic contraction, and a widening gap between education and the labor market, thousands of graduates in Palestine find themselves in a protracted transition period without a clear career path. Between job search, accepting work outside their field, or seeking alternatives through telecommuting and local initiatives, a new labor market reality is emerging.
„Investing in technical skills is the most sustainable way to create jobs,” said al-Buheisi. „Therefore, it is essential to focus on training and empowering young people to generate income online, rather than relying solely on limited local opportunities.”
Written by: Eman Abu Zayed
