Female Unemployment Hits 16.7% as Iran's Economically Inactive Population Tops 39 Million

Statistical Centre of Iran labor force survey data for spring 2026 shows the female unemployment rate climbing from 13.7% to 16.7% over the past year — more than double the male rate of 7.5%. Nearly 800,000 people joined Iran's economically inactive population in the quarter, pushing the total past 39 million, of whom roughly 29 million are women. Women's labor force participation stood at just 13.7%, versus 67.8% for men; unemployment among college-educated women reached 18.8%, more than double the 8.3% rate for college-educated men.