One Day, 320,000 Applications: Iran’s Job Market Under Stress

Iranian media has reported that around 320,000 job applications were submitted on the employment platform JobVision in just one day. The number has broken all previous records and is being seen as a sign of an “unemployment tsunami” in Iran. JobVision is one of Iran’s major online recruitment platforms, built to connect job seekers with companies and organizations looking to hire. It allows users to search for roles based on their skills, location, experience, and salary expectations, while also enabling them to upload resumes and apply directly.

After the end of the “Forty-Day War” and with the beginning of the Persian year 1405 in March 2026, Iran’s labor market entered another phase of recession and layoffs. Economic analysts say factors like internet disruptions, trade restrictions, falling exports, and uncertainty linked to security tensions are pushing small and medium-sized businesses, especially in tech, transport, tourism, and services, to cut back or lay off employees. At the same time, reports from private sector unions suggest that many manufacturing units have paused hiring or temporarily shut down. Rising raw material costs, challenges in international financial transactions, and a steep fall in domestic demand have made operations increasingly difficult.

Experts believe the impact of this crisis is hitting young people, women, and informal workers the hardest, as these groups already face unstable job conditions. In recent weeks, many daily wage workers and startup employees have lost their jobs without receiving meaningful support. Alongside this, rising inflation, reduced purchasing power, and falling investment levels have further weakened chances of new job creation. Economists warn that unless targeted policies are introduced to support businesses and bring stability to the economy, unemployment in the early months of 1405 could turn into one of the country’s most serious social challenges.