The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has expanded its workforce by more than 35,000 employees over the past 23 months. The recruitment drive covers both permanent and contractual positions across government institutions.
Data from the Ministry of Finance and Economy show that the total number of payroll beneficiaries has risen sharply. Before July 2024, the Kurdistan Region had 1,132,967 payroll beneficiaries. Today, that figure exceeds 1.168 million people.
The increase reflects the government’s efforts to strengthen public services. Authorities have focused on sectors that require additional staff. Education, healthcare, and public administration remain among the main areas of recruitment.
Permanent appointments account for a portion of the new hires. These positions mainly went to top university and institute graduates. General medical practitioners also received permanent appointments under existing legal provisions. The policy rewards academic excellence and supports the healthcare sector.
Contractual employment represents the largest share of the recent recruitment effort. More than 25,000 of the newly hired workers joined government institutions under contract agreements. The Council of Ministers approved their distribution across ministries and departments. Each institution received employees based on operational needs and service demands.
The workforce expansion has also increased government spending on salaries. Before July 2024, monthly payroll costs stood at around 950 billion Iraqi dinars. Current payroll spending has reached 970.741 billion Iraqi dinars.
As a result, monthly salary expenditures have increased by nearly 20 billion Iraqi dinars. Officials consider the increase necessary to support public services and maintain government operations.
The rise in employment highlights the importance of the public sector in the Kurdistan Region. Government institutions remain a major source of jobs for thousands of families. The latest figures also show the government’s commitment to creating employment opportunities while improving service delivery.
With more than 1.168 million payroll beneficiaries, the public sector continues to play a central role in the regional economy. Officials expect the new workforce to help improve efficiency and strengthen institutional performance across the Kurdistan Region.
