The ongoing economic collapse in Gaza is forcing highly educated young Palestinians to abandon their career ambitions and enter a growing “survival economy,” where daily income takes priority over long-term goals. Once focused on building professional futures, many graduates are now taking up informal work to support themselves and their families in a deeply strained environment.
Abdullah al-Khawaja, an electrical engineering graduate displaced from Rafah to Khan Younis, now runs a small spice stall after losing the career path he spent years preparing for. He describes how the war shattered not only infrastructure but also personal aspirations, leaving little room to pursue professional dreams. Like many others, he has turned to whatever work is available, even if it falls far short of his qualifications.
In the same market, Ayham al-Najjar, who once aimed to build a career in accounting, now sells sweets and drinks to make ends meet. Mustafa Sallouh, another graduate, earns a living by selling cleaning supplies on the street, while Mustafa Sadek runs a small stall offering stationery and educational books. Each of them shares a similar story of disrupted ambitions and a struggle to adapt to harsh economic realities.
These individual experiences reflect a wider crisis gripping Gaza. Unemployment has surged to over 80%, leaving most of the population focused on securing basic necessities. The situation has been made worse by rising prices, with the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reporting a 37.9% increase in the cost of essential goods in February 2026 alone.
The scale of the economic devastation is further highlighted by a joint assessment from the United Nations and the European Union, which estimates that Gaza will require $71.4 billion over the next decade for recovery and reconstruction. Of this, $26.3 billion is urgently needed within the next 18 months to restore basic services, rebuild infrastructure, and revive economic activity.
The report also notes that Gaza’s economy has contracted by 84%, underlining the severity of the crisis. As formal employment opportunities disappear, thousands of skilled graduates are being pushed into informal, low-income work simply to survive, marking a profound shift in the region’s workforce and future prospects.
