The number of young Lebanese individuals opting for careers completely unrelated to their degrees is on the rise, driven by a lack of opportunities. For many disillusioned graduates, the need to “realign” their dreams has become a means to avoid the specter of unemployment, even if it entails enduring the oppressive circumstances prevalent in Lebanon. However, there are also those who cast their gaze beyond the country’s borders, particularly towards the Gulf nations, where a more promising future beckons.
According to the Director of Statistics Lebanon Ltd Rabih Haber, the issue of unemployment in Lebanon is not as dire as it may initially appear. Despite the latest data from the International Labour Organization (ILO) indicating an overall unemployment rate of 29.6%, Haber argues that “it cannot be deemed high in comparison to a nation grappling with an economic crisis, a collapsing currency, and the non-existent recruitment in the public sector due to its own disintegration.” In light of these circumstances, Haber suggests a redirection of the younger generation towards scientific and technical professions, which are in higher demand in the global job market. However, the true test lies in whether the Lebanese government will genuinely commit to embarking on such a path.
