Salam Watandar has conducted a survey examining the employment status of university graduates in Afghanistan between 2022 and 2025. The survey provides a clear picture of the opportunities, challenges, and expectations youth face as they enter the labor market after graduating from university.
The survey, conducted among 1,509 graduates of public and private universities across 25 provinces, shows that 65.9% of graduates are unemployed, while only 34.1% are employed. Respondents identified the lack of employment opportunities, insufficient work experience, low salaries, and unfamiliarity with job-search strategies as the main challenges to entering the labor market.
Meanwhile, a number of graduates have succeeded in securing employment through competition, skills, and hard working. However, their experiences show that this often required unpaid work or the completion of probationary periods. Azita, who graduated in nursing from a private university in 2022, says,
“I am now working at a hospital. I first took a competitive exam. I worked without pay for a while, and now I have found a suitable job.”
While some graduates have secured stable employment, for many others the path to finding work remains lengthy and uncertain. The survey findings show that 20.2% of unemployed graduates remained without work for six months to one year, 56% for two to three years, and 23.8% for more than three years. These figures indicate that more than three-quarters of unemployed graduates have experienced a long period of waiting to find a job.
Some graduates identifies the lack of work experience as the greatest obstacle to entering the labor market. Musawer, who graduated from the Faculty of Technical Studies at Kabul University in 2023, says,
“After graduating, I thought I would find a job quickly. However, it has now been nearly two years, and I am still looking for work. Most organizations require work experience, and finding employment opportunities is not easy.”
Of the 1,509 respondents, only 34.5% were employed in occupations related to their field of study. Meanwhile, 44.3% reported that their current jobs were partially related to their field, while 21.2% were employed in occupations entirely unrelated to it.
Silsila, a dentistry graduate from a private university in 2022 who now works for a private company, says,
“I have found a job, but it is not related to my field of study. Nevertheless, I have gained work experience, and I hope to work in my field in the future.”
The survey also raises an important question: Do universities truly prepare graduates for the labor market?
Zakiullah Mohammadi, a university lecturer, says that inadequate practical training and lack of work experience have left many graduates unfamiliar with the needs of the labor market.
“At Afghan universities, the emphasis is placed primarily on theory. Students are expected only to study and memorize, while practical training is limited. Many graduates are unfamiliar with the workplace, yet most organizations ask for work experience,” he says.
According to the survey, 59.7% of respondents believe that their university education has been somewhat useful in preparing them for entry into the labor market. In another section of the survey, recruitment pathways are also examined. The findings show that 84.7% of employed graduates secured their jobs through competitive examinations, job portals, or direct applications to employers. This indicates that formal and competitive channels remain an important pathway to employment.
Zainab, a medical graduate from a private university in 2022, says that she entered the labor market through a formal application.
“I went directly to the hospital and worked there without pay for a period. Afterwards, I took a practical examination, and I passed it,” she says.
Meanwhile, some economic experts emphasize that without strengthening practical skills, youth’s entry into the labor market will remain difficult. Abdulzohor Mudaber, an economic expert, says,
“Whenever the environment for talent and skill development becomes conducive, particularly in the area of internships, the separation of experience has an extremely positive impact on the workforce. A capable and insightful workforce can generate better outcomes for the economy.”
Among the graduates who participated in this survey, 45.1% stated that they prefer working in international organizations and non-governmental organizations, 23.7% prefer the private sector, 18.6% prefer governmental institutions, and 12.6% chose to establish their own businesses.
Employers, however, hold different views and place greater emphasis on work experience. Farhat Seddiqi, one of the employers, says,
“It is very good to have specialization; however, I hire based on experience. My priority is work experience—what field they have worked in and how much experience they have.”
This perspective shows that the gap between academic degrees and practical skills remains one of the most significant barriers to university graduates entering the labor market. The inability of university graduates to enter the labor market, however, is not only an economic and employment issue; it also negatively affects their mental health and social well-being. 77.7% of graduates stated that unemployment has had a very negative impact on their mental health; 18.4% reported a significant negative impact, 3% a little impact, and only 0.9% stated that unemployment had no impact on them.
Mohammadullah Baloch, a psychologist, regarding the psychological consequences of unemployment among graduates, says,
“The main cause of most mental illnesses or psychological disorders is unemployment, which causes individuals to experience fear, depression, and a bad temper.”
Nevertheless, experts believe that reforming the education system, expanding skills-based training, creating internship opportunities, and strengthening entrepreneurship can help fill part of the gap between universities and the labor market. According to statistics from the International Labour Organization, the unemployment rate among people aged 15–24 in Afghanistan declined from 17.54% in 2022 to 16.78% in 2025.
Experts, emphasizing the importance of creating opportunities for youth, say that the entry of youth into the economic structure plays a constructive role in Afghanistan’s economic growth. Omidullah Qasemzai, an economic expert, says,
“Of course, an active workforce is a producer in a country’s economy, as it is both a generator of wealth and a consumer of goods. Therefore, the larger and more skilled the workforce, the greater its contribution to national economic development.”
In recent years, Afghanistan has faced significant political, economic, and social changes, which have directly affected the labor market and employment opportunities, particularly for educated youth. The reduction in job opportunities, the limitation of economic activities, and increased competition for limited employment opportunities are among the most significant challenges faced by university graduates.
According to experts, revising educational curricula, expanding internship programs, establishing career guidance centers in universities, teaching digital skills and foreign languages, supporting entrepreneurship, and creating a structured labor market monitoring system are among the recommendations proposed in this study to improve the employment situation of graduates.
Reporter: Khadija Kohistani
