TEHRAN -- Dr. Sepehri, the director of the Institute of Labor and Social Security, said that the unemployment rate among university graduates is about 5 percent higher than the national average of 14.5 percent.

He stated that the unemployment rate among university graduates was 4 percent in 1996 but rose to 20 percent after 5 years.

Sepehri also spoke of the increasing number of young people taking university entrance exams and cited statistics showing that the number of male students is decreasing but the number of female students is increasing.

He also said that women have fewer job opportunities than men. Sepehri maintains that the young age of Iran's population and the dependence on oil revenues are the main factors behind unemployment in Iran.

The deputy minister of science, research, and technology, Mr. Tofiqi, also noted that statistics show that unemployment is rising among university graduates.

He believes that the economic recession in Iran is the main factor behind unemployment. He said that the ministry should take into consideration the number of students compared to the needs of the society, adding that the economic and education systems must be in harmony.

Tofiqi stated that many Iranian university graduates are unemployed, while there is a labor shortage in the agricultural and industrial sectors.

He concluded by saying that if the Iranian economy continues in this direction, unemployment among university graduates will continue to rise.