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Tikrit, Salah Al-Din Governorate LABOUR MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES Tikrit, Salah Al-Din Governorate IOM Iraq – 2019 This programme is supported by: Labour Market Opportunities and Challenges IOM Disclaimer List of Acronyms The opinions expressed in the report are those of BEP Business Expansion Package the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views BSP Business Support Package of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The designations employed and the presentation of material CIP Community Implementation Plan throughout the report do not imply the expression of any CoC Chamber of Commerce opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM concerning the CoI Chamber of Industries legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. CRC Community Resource Centre ESP Employment Support Package IOM is committed to the principle that humane and FGD Focus Group Discussion orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental organization, IOM acts with its partners FT Farming Training in the international community to: assist in meeting the IDP Internally Displaced Person operational challenges of migration; advance understanding ISIL Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human IOM International Organization for Migration dignity and well-being of migrants. JP Job Placement LMA Labour Market Assessment Contact: For more information on the Return and Recovery Unit (RRU) programme and current activities taking place in NFI Non-Food Items Iraq, please contact: [email protected] MoLSA Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs OJT On-the-Job Training Main Office in Baghdad UNAMI Compound DIWAN 2 SME Small and Medium Enterprise International Zone, Baghdad, Iraq. VT Vocational Training Tel: +3908 3105 2600 ext. 5857/5928 E-mail: [email protected] 2 International Organization for Migration Table of Contents IOM Disclaimer 2 List of Acronyms 2 1. Executive Summary 4 1.1. Introduction 1.2. Study Components 1.3. Tikrit Key Findings 1.3.1 Challenges & Opportunities Facing Youth 1.3.2 Challenges & Opportunities Facing Jobseekers 1.3.3 Challenges & Opportunities Facing Employers 1.3.4 Challenges & Opportunities Facing Consumers 1.4. Overall Recommendations 2. Location and Study Overview 5 2.1. Introduction 2.2. LMA Overview 2.3. Tikrit District Overview 2.3.1. Location and Demographics 2.3.2. Security and Displacement 2.3.3. Local Concerns 2.4. LMA Methodology Overview 2.4.1. Key Informant Interviews 2.4.2. Youth Focus Group Discussions 2.4.3. Jobseeker Surveys 2.4.4. Employer Surveys 2.4.5. Consumer Surveys 3. Findings 7 3.1. Key Informant Interviews 3.2. Youth Needs and Priorities 3.3. Job-seeker Needs and Priorities 3.4. Employer Needs and Priorities 3.5. Consumer Needs and Priorities 3.6. Community Intervention Recommendations 4. Conclusions 9 3 Labour Market Opportunities and Challenges 1. Executive Summary as high income persons, and their relatives; and • Low-income persons, the vulnerable, youth, and women were 1.1. Introduction felt to be the highest priority for livelihood assistance. Recommendation: With sub-offices across Iraq, jointly managed Community Resource Grocery stores, bakeries, and construction manufacturers Centres (CRCs), and a presence within the Ministry of Labour can be supported. and Social Affairs’ sub-offices, IOM’s field presence allows for a community-driven approach to recovery and development. Under Inclusion in hiring where appropriate, refer IOM jobseekers its livelihoods programming, IOM works through a system of to businesses supported by other international support community engagement that has been refined through an iterative where possible learning process and relies on stakeholder consultation throughout 1.3.3. Challenges and Opportunities facing Employers the design of sustainable livelihood activities. In order to inform • Businesses mentioned that construction materials, delivery the design of market-led development interventions, a series of services, barley-based bread, some diaper sizes, and thermal Labour Market Assessments (LMAs) were conducted. In Salah al- pants are all unavailable on the local market; Din Governorate, Tikrit district was selected as one of the eight LMAs conducted this round (June 2019). • Only one business mentioned low demand as their greatest operating challenge indicating a positive reflection of the 1.2. Study Components outlook of local small business owners; and • A cafeteria, a bakery, a restaurant, a dairy plant, a construction, This LMA consisted of 103 individual interviews and three youth an aluminium workshop, a water purification station, a Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with roughly 30 participants, blacksmith, a ceramic factory, and a diaper factory all conducted over a two-month period between December 2018 mentioned difficulty finding qualified workers. and January 2019. The LMAs are made up of both quantitative and qualitative Recommendation: exercises consisting of Key Informant Interviews (KII), FGDs which Review those having difficulty finding skilled workers for targeted young people and household surveys which targeted Job Placement (JP) opportunities; and jobseekers, employers and consumers. This LMA focused on two Look for ways to provide business support packages communities of Tikrit – Al Qadissiya and Mahalla. A summary of (BSPs) for construction materials, delivery services, barley- key findings is included below with some analysis of the findings based bread, diapers, and thermal pants. followed by recommendations for future interventions. 1.3.4. Challenges & Opportunities facing Consumers 1.3. Tikrit Key Findings • Consumers were not found to spend significantly different amounts of income on rent, food, electricity or gas than in 1.3.1. Challenges and Opportunities facing Youth other surveyed areas of Iraq, suggesting that these sectors may • Youth felt strongly that hairdressing, barbershops for males, not be experiencing any price hikes or drops at the moment; and tailoring courses were repetitively offered in their • The most frequently mentioned hard-to-find service was community to the point of oversaturation; and medical services, mentioned by 23%.; and • Requested trainings included different subjects such as • Other mentions of goods that are hard to find locally include plumbing, networking, marketing and blacksmithing for male car repairs, high quality clothes and municipal services. youth, and embroidery for female youth. Recommendation: Recommendation: Support trainings, JP, or BSP for medical services, car Avoid providing hairdressing and barbershop-related trainings; and mechanics, and clothing. Provide plumbing, networking, marketing, and blacksmithing trainings for male youth, and embroidery 1.4. Overall Recommendations trainings for female youth. Sectors Food reselling, food manufacturing, construction to target: manufacturing, health services 1.3.2. Challenges and Opportunities facing Jobseekers Profile Low-income persons, vulnerable families, youth and • Microbusinesses such as grocery stores, coffee shops, and to target: women bakeries were mentioned as successful business types, in • Avoid providing hairdressing and barbershop- addition to the construction sector, investment, health and related trainings trading; • Be aware of community dynamics that make • The largest employers for youth in the area tended to be the jobseekers feel excluded from private-sector construction, health and oil sectors, industries, microbusinesses, Notes: jobs and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); • From a conflict sensitivity standpoint, construction, oil and health may be elite- • About 63% of youth felt that the only jobs available were dominated sectors that IOM may want to avoid dominated by those affiliated to certain political parties as well granting to 4 International Organization for Migration 2. Location and Study Overview 2.3.2 Security and Displacement ISIL had seized Tikrit in early June 2014 after capturing Mosul and nearby Hawija in Kirkuk Governorate. While district-wide 2.1. Introduction information has been difficult to accurately assess, Tikrit city’s Recognizing that the private sector is an engine for growth, IOM mayor estimated that nearly 70% of the city’s population fled during works to create inclusive markets at the individual, community the early weeks of the occupation. Multiple failed efforts and an and institutional level. At the individual level, IOM has prioritized ultimately successful one in 2015 to retake Tikrit and surrounding support to micro enterprises, including providing business areas prompted mass displacement of those who had not yet fled. development services (for example business advisory services) and BSPs (including in-kind and cash support), all of which aim to 2.3.3 Local Concerns increase income generation at the household level. In addition to the destruction that accompanied the various For those individuals who need capacity development support or efforts to retake Tikrit, local accounts have suggested that attacked who have specific backgrounds such as agriculture, IOM provides motivated by revenge by local actors resulted in additional damage specialized skills development and training through Vocational to numerous buildings and much infrastructure throughout the city Training (VT), Farming Training (FT) or On-the-Job Training (OJT), and district.1 This has ultimately resulted in a district in severe need accompanied
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