Salam Watandar’s findings show that, among 28 educated youth (17 boys and 11 girls), 18 are unable to write a professional resume and lack familiarity with basic job search requirements. Meanwhile, 10 respondents said that when they applied for jobs, they discovered that the positions required skills they had not acquired.
Despite holding higher education degrees, all of the participants are unemployed. Many said that individuals lacking sufficient skills or professional resumes had obtained key positions through personal connections. This situation has discouraged many young people from enhancing their skills or actively pursuing professional careers.
Fatima, a 29-year-old from Badakhshan holding a bachelor’s degree in literature, has been unemployed for years and shared her experience. She says,
“My knowledge in these areas is very basic. I have only a limited understanding of how to write a CV or apply for jobs, and I am not fully familiar with reliable job websites or interview principles.”
Ahmad, a 27-year-old resident of Parwan who also holds a bachelor’s degree in literature, has been unemployed for years and shared his experience. He says,
“I still cannot write a CV on my own in a way that would be effective in a professional office environment. Whenever I submitted one, there were either issues with the CV, or the conditions were not equal.”
Ten of the surveyed youth stated that many job vacancies demand multiple skills simultaneously beyond the position. They believe these requirements are not aligned with their university education.
Habibullah, a 34-year-old resident of Kabul and a computer science graduate, explains:
“I know how to prepare my CV and apply for several jobs. I studied computer science and am qualified to work in IT. However, during written exams and interviews, I was asked questions not only about IT but also about electricity and electrical engineering. I kept asking myself what IT had to do with electricity. As a result, I was rejected several times.”
Haqiqullah, a 29-year-old economics graduate from Kunar, shares a similar experience. He says,
“I studied economics, and I can prepare a CV and write job applications. My education provided me with basic knowledge. However, the job market demands more practical skills. If I had gained practical experience during my studies, it would likely be easier to find work. The lack of job opportunities and the expectation of additional skills beyond our field are the biggest challenges.”
The surveyed youth say that favoritism and personal connections in offices have discouraged them from improving their job-search skills. According to them, in many offices, connections and intermediaries are valued more than qualifications.
Rahmatullah, a 27-year-old from Kabul, says: “I have seen many educated and capable people doing hard labor because they could not find suitable jobs. There is widespread discrimination. Unqualified individuals are hired for positions they are not qualified for. I have personally experienced this favoritism.”
Hilal, a 27-year-old from Balkh, says: “I have taken several exams and attended interviews. Despite receiving high scores, I was not selected. Later, I learned that someone with only a high school diploma—or a relative of someone working in the office—had been hired instead. This has happened many times.”
On the other hand, some of the interviewed youth said that their university curriculam did not include training in CV writing or job-search skills. In some cases, they believe the curriculum is not aligned with the needs of the labor market at all.
Amin, a 23-year-old from Kabul, says: “During university, we never had courses on job searching or CV writing. We usually go to photographers to prepare our CVs, but even they often do not know the correct format. If we had taken at least one course on this subject, I might have learned how to apply properly and possibly found a job by now.”
Some university professors agree that shortcomings in practical training and curriculum design create serious challenges for graduates entering the job market.
Shahzad Arian, a university teacher, says: “The quality of educational content has a direct impact on society. Unfortunately, insufficient attention is given to the practical aspects of education in Afghanistan. As a result, young people face many difficulties after graduation. Employment and entrepreneurship should be natural outcomes of higher education.”
Economic experts also believe that integrating practical and technical skills with theoretical education would better prepare students for the job market.
Iraj Faqiri, an economic issues expert, says: “If technical and practical courses are integrated alongside theoretical subjects, graduates will develop both knowledge and skills. Over time, this will enable them to enter the job market more quickly and successfully.”
Abdul Nasir Rishtia, another economic issues expert, says: “Many countries, particularly in Western and European regions, have incorporated practical training into their curricula. As a result, students graduate with marketable skills. The Government of Afghanistan needs to pay greater attention to this issue.”
We attempted to obtain a response from officials at the Ministry of Higher Education about whether university curricula align with labor market needs and whether job placement programs exist. However, despite repeated calls, we received no response.
According to World Bank reports, Afghanistan’s unemployment rate in 2025 has doubled in recent years, with young people being the most affected. By 2023, nearly a quarter of this age group was unemployed.
