SOCIAL SECTOR

No essential change occurred in the social life of people in July 2005, while positive tendencies in major social parameters have been observed.

According to the State Statistics Committee, as of 1 August 2005 net money incomes of the population grew 26% as compared to last year and comprised 20386.8trln manats (including 2,471m manats in July). Per capita incomes comprised 2,471m manats, or 24.7% up than 2004 and 0.9% up as compared to June 2005.

Table 1. Major indices, characterizing money incomes of the population

Table 1. Major indices, characterizing money incomes of the population

Source: State Statistics Committee

After implementation of tax remittances, obligatory payments and voluntary fees the real community incomes made up 19.5trln manats, or 26% more than 2004. Real per capita money incomes comprised 2371.4 manats (+24.7% and +0.9%). In this period 74.7% of the community expenses was spent on purchase of goods and services, 21.2% - purchase of foreign currency and 4.1% - payments and fees.

Over 7 months of 2005 the expenses turned out 452.4bn manats down as compared to incomes and made up 19,934,4bn manats, or 23.55% up as compared to 2004. Source: State Statistics Committee

As of official data, in this period the average monthly salary comprised 567,200 manats ($117.7), or 22.3% more than the same period of 2004. The highest salaries were fixed in the spheres of industry, finance, rent and commerce, construction.

Since 1 July the SOCAR increased wages 20%, which currently comprise 1,172m manats a month. Thus, 15bn manats was added in the wage fund of the company.

The social payments paid at the job places made up 21.6bn manats. Major part of benefits fell on employees of electricity gas and water supply, transport, store economy, communications and education.

The next major income source was pensions and benefits. Beneficiaries of social benefits were pensioners. As of 1 July 2005 the State Fund for Social Security registered 1350,900 pensioners, including 760,900 people who received pension for oldness, 261,400 - for disability, 133,300 people вЂ" for loss of bread winner, 195,300 вЂ" pension for long work experience and social pensions.Analysis of the structure of pensioners show the number of pensioners grew 2.5% as compared to last year and the number of pensioners for disability rise.

Average monthly pension rate in this period rose 17% to 139,900 manats, or 24.9% of the monthly wage. The SFSS spent 1127.6bn manats for financing the social payments, or 205.7bn manats or 22.3% more as compared to 2004.

Source: State Statistics Committee

According to the Confederation of Trades Unions, the per capita living subsistence made up 284,900 manats, or 16.4% up as compared to 2004.

It is explained with seasonal character of consumer prices of foodstuff, which conditioned deflation at 3.1% in Azerbaijan in summer. The subsistence minimum made up 497,600 manats per employee, down 2% as compared to June, 411,200 manats for unemployed, 746,600 manats per employee with one dependent, which increased 2% as compared to June 2005.

In accordance with official statistics, as of 1 August 2005 a total of 3840,500 economically active people were employed in the Azerbaijan, or 46.4% of all population. In January to June 2005 average number of employees involved in enterprises and organizations of the country grew 6.2%. The number of hired employees in January to June 2005 grew 6.2% as compared to last year. In this period 46,900 of the hired employees were discharged, including 61% on own will. However, the number of newly employed exceeded the discharged 18.4%.

Since the beginning of the year around 2,000 people were provided with job places in Azerbaijan thanks to labor fairs held in different regions of the country. Thus, over 7 months 25 events of the kinds were held 25 regions of Azerbaijan and 2 in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. 797 enterprises, including 229 private ones, offered 8481 jobs. As a result 1952 people were provided with jobs, including 700 people вЂ" at private enterprises, 165 people were attracted to trainings, 392 people вЂ" public work.

Besides, the number of jobless also increase in the country. 51.8% of all 56,408 jobless registered at the recruitment agencies are women.

The analysis of the structure of the unemployed shows the jobless with high education grew in twice in number, while the number of the unemployed with secondary and incomplete education halved.

5 people claimed at 1 vacancy. 2816 people received the unemployment benefits for July comprised 200,100 manats or 33.3% of the average monthly wage.