Education, Employment, and Capabilities Assessment
Sinjar Academy conducted a survey this month to assess education, employment, and capabilities in Sinjar and surrounding regions, including the IDP camps and diaspora. 811 respondents (668 males and 125 females) participated in the survey, the average age of the group was 25.83 years old. 35.1% of them indicated living in the north of the Sinjar District, 35% in Dohuk Province, including IDPs, 22.2% in the south side of the Sinjar District, and the remaining respondents in other areas of Iraq and diaspora.
While 70% of the participants had post-high school education (1% graduate degrees, 44.3% 4-year bachelor’s degrees, and 25.8% 2-year diplomas) and 25% completed either secondary or middle school, only 24.4% are employed (17.8% in the public sector and 6.7% in the private sector). The unemployment rate is 75.6%, which is an appalling number reflecting the dire economic situation for the people of Sinjar, for both returnees and IDP residents.
Current English language and IT skills among the participants were impressive: 36% said their English was good or excellent, 42.9% said intermediate, and 18.2% said basic. With respect to computer technology, the majority (56.7%) said they have used computers and Microsoft software, 18.5% have used computers for basic tasks such as email, 12% have never used a computer in their lives, 9% possess the basic skills of computer hardware, software, and operating systems, and 4.8% have knowledge of coding.
Participants indicated their desire for targeted education as well as employment. 27.1% indicated they would like to learn basic computer skills, 26.9% coding, 17.8% data sciences and databases, 12.7% video and photo production, 8% cybersecurity, and 7.5% graphic design. On the business side, 34% indicated they would like to learn business management, 17.3% finance and accounting, 16% leadership, 12.5% digital marketing, 9.2% logistics, 7.3% communication, and 3.7% advocacy.
With respect to vocational professions, 52.9% indicated they would like to be technicians to repair computers and cellphones,16% renewables, 14.3% electric work, 4.8% construction, 4.6% HVAC, 4.6 car mechanic, 2.1% carpentry, 0.5% plumbing, and 0.2% welding.
The Sinjar Academy team will continue to collect data and review other studies available so that the programs we will offer fit with the needs of the community, the interests of the students, and the overall market conditions. Our goal is to build resilience through education to help the communities of Sinjar recover from genocide and rebuild their lives.
Click here to access the full results.