Poll: Surge in Unemployment Seen as Top Concern Amid Mass Return of Migrants to Afghanistan

DID Press: According to the results of a new poll conducted by DID Press, the overwhelming majority of participants have identified rising unemployment and pressure on the labor market as the most important and worrying short-term consequence of the massive return of immigrants to the country.

In the poll, which included four options to gauge public concerns about the possible consequences of the return of immigrants, 86 percent of participants considered rising unemployment and pressure on the labor market to be the main problem.

In contrast, 14 percent of the audience considered the housing crisis and rising rents to be the main concerns.

The other two options, namely the increased need for humanitarian aid and the national identity crisis, did not receive any votes; an issue that shows economic concerns are currently the priority of public opinion.

Economic experts have also repeatedly warned that Afghanistan labor market does not have the capacity to absorb a large wave of returnees, and if the government and international institutions do not take immediate action, the likelihood of social discontent, increased poverty, and re-migration is very high.

The return of migrants has intensified while Afghanistan is still struggling with infrastructure problems, weak social services, and economic instability; conditions that could impose additional pressure on society and pose a serious challenge to the reconstruction and stability process