# Economic recession and unemployment in Iran

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/economic-recession-and-unemployment-in-iran
> Updated: 2026-08-28T06:41:09.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2.

Iran is experiencing significant labor market challenges characterized by high unemployment rates and economic recession. National data indicates a crisis among the educated population, with university graduates accounting for 35.6% of the total unemployed individuals.

In Hormozgan province, the situation has manifested in approximately 20,000 workers facing unemployment due to business closures in sectors such as hospitality and industrial companies. Reports highlight layoffs at specific entities, including the Persian Gulf five-star hotel and Madkoush Steel Company. 

The economic strain is further exacerbated by a massive gap between wages and the cost of living. While the cost of a basic livelihood basket has reached approximately 90 million tomans, minimum wages remain between 17 and 18 million tomans. This disparity has forced many trained specialists into informal or precarious employment.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-28: Hormozgan unemployment reaches 20,000 amid economic recession

An economic recession in Hormozgan, Iran, has led to an estimated 20,000 unemployed workers and a severe gap between minimum wages and the 90 million toman cost of living.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hormozgan-unemployment-reaches-20000-amid-economic-recession

### 2026-08-13: Iran faces high unemployment among university graduates

Official data from the Statistical Centre of Iran shows that university graduates comprise 35.6% of the nation's unemployed population, highlighting a severe mismatch in the labor market.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/iran-faces-high-unemployment-among-university-graduates

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Cite as: Economic recession and unemployment in Iran. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/economic-recession-and-unemployment-in-iran