Social sector in Azerbaijan (January-November 2014)

A dynamic increase in real income of the population, a decrease in poverty level, an increase in employment, the efficient use of human resources, improvement of the living conditions of disabled veterans and families of martyrs, creating of a medical and social rehabilitation system in accordance with modern requirements, an increase in payments to the population testify to the perfection of Azerbaijan's social policy.

Population's income

According to the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee, the nominal income of the population totaled 33.627 billion AZN in January-November 2014, which is 4.7 percent more compared to January-November 2013.

Thus, during this period, the nominal income of the population per capita increased by 3.4 percent and hit 3573,3 AZN.

The purchasing power of the population increased by 1.5 percent compared to the same period of 2013.

Major indices, characterizing income of the population

Source: State Statistics Committee

The population's income after paying all required fees and membership fees made up 30.559 billion AZN, which is 5.1 percent more than in January-November 2013. Real income per capita increased by 3.7 percent to 3247,2 AZN.

Salary

The salary is one of the key social and economic indicators, which sufficiently enough characterizes the level of the prosperity of the working part of the population. According to the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee, the average monthly salary in Azerbaijan in January-October 2014 comprised 441.8 AZN compared to 416.7 AZN as of the same period of 2013.

As of November 1, 2014, the average salary of temporary staff was 262 AZN, while employees involved upon civil contracts - 311.5 AZN.

Remuneration in the oil sector reached 1756.5 AZN per month, the non-oil sector - 408.7 AZN, the public sector - 355.9 AZN, the private sector - 567.3 AZN.

The highest salary was observed in the mining industry, financial, information and communication, scientific and technical activity, as well as the construction sectors.

As of the eleven months of 2014, around 99,200 people were involved in the construction sector of Azerbaijan. The nominal salary in the construction sector amounted to 626.1 AZN, which is 0.5 percent more than in the same period of 2013. The average salary in the public sector amounted to 518.3 AZN (3.5 percent growth), while in the private sector - 673 AZN (1 percent decrease).

The salary in the field of building construction decreased by 2.5 percent - an average of 554.1 AZN, specialized construction increased by 22.5 percent - up to 926.7 AZN. The salary in the field of civil construction work decreased by 17.5 percent - up to 501.4 AZN in January-November 2014.

Labor market

As of Dec. 1, 2014, some 28,900 people were officially registered as unemployed in Azerbaijan, including 39.6 percent women.

Thus, the number of unemployed has decreased by 20.17 percent since early 2014. As of January 1, 2014, some 36,206 people were registered as unemployed.

Distribution of unemployed individuals and those who receive unemployment benefit in towns and regions as of Nov. 1, 2014 (people)

The average unemployment benefit in Azerbaijan is 282.6 AZN.

According to the State Statistics Committee, as of early December 2014, the economically active population is 4.835 million people, of which 4.596 people were engaged in labor activity. In this case, as of December 1, 2014, the number of hired persons is 1.507 million people, including 883,700 people worked in the public sector, and 623,800 people - in private sector.

The number of people working in the oil sector amounted to 36,500 people, in the non-oil sector - 1.471 million people. Around 1.463 million people among hired employees work in non-agricultural sphere.

Around 22.1 percent fall to the hired employees involved in the production spheres: 6.8 percent in construction, 6.2 percent in manufacturing industry, 3 percent in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 2.4 percent - in the mining industry, 2 percent - in the production and distribution of electricity, gas and steam, 1.7 percent - in water supply, waste recycling, 22.5 percent in education, 18.8 percent - trade, repair of vehicles, 8.7 percent - medical and social services, 6.7 percent in state governance and defense, social maintenance, 4.9 percent - transportation and warehousing, 3.8 percent - recreation, entertainment and arts, 3.8 percent - professional, scientific and technical activities, 1.8 percent - communication and information, 2 percent - financial and insurance activities, 0.8 percent - real estate transactions, 1.6 percent - administrative and additional services, 1.4 percent - tourist accommodation and food and 1.1 percent - other areas.

Social maintenance

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Labour and Social Protection provided 96,265 families (420,663 family members) with the targeted social assistance in November. This is by 33% (47,638 families or 209,632 people) less than in the same period of 2013.

The number of targeted social assistance recipients in the country continues declining as a result of improving the welfare of the population amid the sustainable socio-economic development and strengthening the control over the transparent issuance of the targeted social assistance.

The average amount of the targeted social assistance per one family increased by 7.5 percent to 148.97 AZN by 2013.