According to the State Statistics Committee a total of 253,000 jobs opened in Azerbaijan from October 2003 to July 2005, or 42.2% of 600,000 new jobs to be opened in the country over 5 years at the President’s pre-election promise. 132,000 of them are permanent jobs. 84% of all jobs fell on regions, which was possible after the adoption of the State Program on Socio-economic development of regions of Azerbaijan 2004-2008.
How are they going on?
The majority of regional population is involved in agriculture. During the first year of the implementation of the State Program in agrarians sector over 40,000 citizens of the country were provided with job places, of which half are permanent and the rest are seasonal jobs. Thus, out of 4.8 million h of area only 1.8 million h are used for agriculture purposes, 1,039 million h of area were given to private ownership. 3.7 million people are landowners.
There are 2654 economies, 164 cooperatives, and 388 farms in the agriculture sector of he country. Reforms were held in 1770 collective and soviet farms, as well as refining and agro-service enterprises. According to Ismat Abbasov, the Azerbaijani Agriculture Minister, the activities of Agroleasing joint stock company, which would supply agrarian technique to the sector, would increase the employment rate in agriculture.
The entrepreneur activities by physical and legal entities develop in the central regions, while new production capacities are built and old
facilities are rehabilitated.
Case study
In 2004 over 4,000 new jobs opened in Ganja with average salary of 323,900 manats. Ilham Aliyev, the vice head of the city executive power, noted that 3664 of all jobs opened in Ganja last year were permanentР°, while 416 were either temporary or seasonal jobs. 255 jobs more were restored. From 2004 to 2008 over 22,000 jobs will open in Ganja.
Sources of jobs
New jobs will open in Ganja in the near perspective at the expense of the construction of aluminum plant with the production capacity of 100,000 metric tons a year.
Preparations for the construction of plants to be specialized in manufacturing telecommunications equipment in Mingachevir and Ali Bayramly are underway. The enterprise will output devices for electron Automatic stations, application of advanced technologies, directed at covering the domestic demand.
According to the State Program, 24,000 new jobs will open in Lankaran and the city authorities regard the figure as real. Several tinning factories have been set up in Lankaran over the past 2 years, while the Russian entrepreneurs will establish some tourist enterprises and plan to build new comfortable hospitals here.
В"Following the exploitation of a sea port, which will be ready construction by the end the year, will achieve the development of tourism. It will promote the opening of new jobs,В" the head of the city executive power said.
So, the potential of the regions is too great. It is necessary to handle it efficiently in favor of the local people.
Labor fairs
Las year 20,000 jobs were put for fairs with the average salary of 347,000 manats. As a result of labor fairs held in 55 districts of the country 6,185 citizens were provided with jobs.
Since the beginning of 2005 the Central Employment Department of the Ministry for Labor and Social Security has hold labor fairs covering almost all regions of the country. 161 permanent jobs were offered to citizens in a labor fair held in Salyan District on 24 June and 3100 seasonal jobs in agriculture. However, the wages varied between 135,000-170,000 manats. 87 people were employed through a labor fair held in Mingachevir or 22.5% up as compared 2003.
125 units, institution and private organizations active in the territory of Shaki District offered 900 vacancies to the participants of the fair, which resulted in employment of 113 people.
Now about realities
A problem of employment has been in focus in Azerbaijan for a long time. Despite the measures taken for removal of unemployment in regions, the younger generation, and not only the younger generation, migrate to other countries, in particular to Russia, in search of jobs.
They are also in search of better earning, as the maximal salary offered to employees in better cases comprises around 350,000 manats. The same time the average monthly salary in the country is 555,700 manats. Thus, in fight against poverty reduction it is important to carry out simultaneous work over its appraisal. Then the problem with unemployment, as well as employees with low incomes will be resolved.