Graduates of Iraq’s petroleum institutes staged a protest outside the Ministry of Oil in Baghdad on Sunday, calling on the government to provide employment opportunities within the country’s oil sector.
The demonstrators argued that their academic and technical qualifications are directly aligned with the needs of Iraq’s energy industry and said they should be given priority for available positions in oil-related institutions and companies.
During the protest, Oil Minister Bassim Mohammed Khudair met with representatives of the graduates and discussed their demands. He said the ministry was pursuing the issue through official communications with the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Finance.
Khudair noted that the ministry requires additional personnel and technical expertise, particularly within its self-financed and revenue-generating companies as well as contracting firms operating in the sector. He indicated that efforts were ongoing to address the graduates’ employment concerns through the appropriate government channels.
Meanwhile, similar demonstrations continued in Basra for a second consecutive week, where engineers and science graduates gathered outside oil companies demanding jobs and appointments.
The protesters said employment opportunities remain limited despite their qualifications and the province’s central role in Iraq’s oil industry. Basra is the country’s largest oil-producing region and serves as the hub of its crude export operations.
According to local reports, security forces moved to disperse the gathering in Basra, but demonstrators continued their protest and reiterated their demands for government action.
Participants said they intend to maintain their demonstrations until the Ministry of Oil and other relevant authorities provide concrete solutions and create employment opportunities for qualified graduates seeking work in the energy sector.
