Afghans' Outlook on Economy, Jobs Worst in Years - gallup

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Afghans' grim outlook on their economy illustrates that the Taliban are not the only threat to the country's stability after NATO's withdrawal. As Afghanistan's already stalled economy slowed even more in 2014, the percentage of Afghans who saw economic conditions getting better sank to a record-low 6%.

The uncertainty surrounding the security transition and the elections stalemate in 2014 have certainly drained Afghans' positivity about their economy. But even more problematic for a country whose economic growth has been largely reliant on international aid and spending, the situation has also spooked investors. After averaging real GDP growth of about 9% each year from 2003 to 2012, according to the World Bank, Afghanistan's growth tumbled sharply to 3.7% in 2013 and slumped to a projected 1.5% in 2014.

Repairing investor confidence will be key to sustainable growth in Afghanistan in 2015 and beyond, but so will creating private-sector jobs. With growth slowing in every sector of Afghanistan's economy, from services and industries to agriculture, there are fewer jobs available for Afghans who were already grappling with high unemployment. In fact, from Afghans' perspective, the job market has never been worse in the past seven years than it is now. Fewer than one in five (19%) Afghans say it is a good time to find a job where they live.

While the jobs outlook has generally been getting worse across Afghanistan since 2012, those living in the Central region, which includes the country's capital, Kabul, and in the East are the most likely to be discouraged. Only 13% of Afghans living in these two regions say it is a good time to find a job. Afghans are more positive in all other regions, particularly the South, but the percentage saying it is a good time to find a job is still lower in those regions than even a few years ago.  Read More at Afghans' Outlook on Economy

Afghans' Outlook on Economy, Jobs Worst in Years - Gallup