"Spatial Analysis of Foreign Labor and Its Impact on the Labor Market and Development in Karbala Governorate"

Abstract

The study highlights a significant disparity in the distribution of foreign labor within Karbala Governorate, with the highest concentration recorded in the Karbala district, averaging approximately 9,551 foreign workers—representing over 86% of the total foreign labor force during the study period. In contrast, local labor did not exceed 3,300 workers, accounting for only 2.4%, which reflects a limited capacity of the national workforce to meet local market demands, both in terms of quantity and skill.

Data indicates that foreign labor is predominantly employed in the industrial sector, with an average share of 69.6%, followed by the hotel and restaurant sector at 15%, and the electricity sector at 10%. This demonstrates a strong reliance on expatriate workers in key economic sectors. Meanwhile, Iraqi labor was primarily concentrated in the construction sector at 43%, followed by the hotel and restaurant sector at 23.3%, and the tourism and service sector at 10%, revealing a clear gap between the employment sectors of local and foreign labor.

In 2020, the number of foreign workers at the Karbala refinery reached approximately 11,000, compared to only 2,000 Iraqi workers, underscoring the significant underrepresentation of the local workforce in major strategic projects. The statistics further show that Bangladeshi workers accounted for the largest proportion of foreign labor at 38%, followed by Syrian workers at 21.6%, indicating a diverse composition of foreign nationalities dominating certain specialized sectors of the labor market.

Statistical analyses confirm the existence of strong and significant correlations among the studied variables, with correlation coefficients reaching 0.871, 0.884, and -0.993, and coefficients of determination ranging from 0.661 to 0.821. These values indicate a well-structured and influential relationship within the labor distribution mechanisms in the governorate. The findings call for a comprehensive review of national employment policies to ensure a more balanced integration of local and foreign labor, in line with the objectives of sustainable labor market development.