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Iran Faces 2 Million Job Losses Amid US-Israel Conflict, Deepening Economic Crisis
Widespread Job Losses Due to US-Israel Conflict
The ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel has led to persistent large-scale workforce reductions in Iran. According to Gholamhossein Mohammadi, Deputy Minister of Iran's Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare, approximately 2 million people have lost their jobs due to the conflict as of the 19th. This impact extends beyond factories closed by airstrikes, affecting manufacturing, retail, import/export, and digital sectors. Citizens have expressed their firsthand experience of the mass layoffs through observations of empty subways, parking spaces, and highways on social media.
Economic Losses from Internet Shutdowns and Reduced Consumption
Since the outbreak of the conflict, the Iranian authorities' internet shutdown measures have severely impacted the country's relatively vibrant IT and digital sectors. Sattar Hashemi, Iran's Minister of Information and Communications Technology, stated in January that internet shutdowns caused at least 50 trillion rials (approximately 6 billion yen) in economic losses per day. The 52 days of internet shutdowns since the conflict began have resulted in over 1.8 billion dollars in economic losses, particularly affecting female workers. Additionally, reduced spending on non-essential goods has led to a significant drop in demand across tourism, dining, and non-food retail sectors, contributing to a decline in personal consumption.
Spreading Unemployment Across Key Industries and Media
Attacks by the United States and Israel from late March to early April damaged key petrochemical plants and major steel companies in Iran, causing tens of thousands to lose their jobs. Hundreds of thousands of workers supplying parts or materials to these industries were also affected. Notably, Iran's massive automotive industry and textile sectors have also seen widespread layoffs. Disruptions in domestic supply chains and instability around the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route, forced some factories to halt operations or dismiss employees. As unemployment rises across various sectors, the official inflation rate surpassed 50% in March, with many experts predicting further increases in the coming months.
*Source: Yahoo!ニュース (2026-04-22)*
