The level of unemployment in Azerbaijan is 6.7%, while 4285mln are able to work. Some 69.1% from the total number of unemployed are people under thirty-five years of age. The largest pool of people who are unemployed are between twenty and twenty-four years of age.
Citizens of Azerbaijan, particularly, university graduates wish to work in their fields, but there are more candidates than vacancies. The main reason is that presently, universities are functioning for their own interests in Azerbaijan. Presently, universities in Azerbaijan seek to draw as many students as they can for their interests. The choice of a profession mainly depends on the university's popularity.
We should increase the level of education in Azerbaijani universities and train in expert fields that are needed. There is a necessity to introduce new professional standards to meet international standards and to settle the existing problem.
It occurs due to the issue that currently the higher educational institutions work not for the society by trying to cover its demands for the necessary specialists, but for themselves by trying to collect many people in their faculties by using the demand of the entrants who proceed from their prestige in selecting specialties.
'Law', 'International relations', 'International law' are the most popular faculties amongst entrants who give preference to the principles of prestige and elite of the specialties, but not the demand in the labor market. Naturally the demand for these specialties has changed. Currently technical specialties are in more demand than humanitarian specialties. There is a big difference between these specialties. Presently the oil sector has developed well in Azerbaijan and as seen, the level of the professional training is changing for people who work in the foreign companies. However, the oil sector does not reflect the whole economic potential of the Country.
This situation led to the issue that currently the foreign companies and even State organizations of Azerbaijan give preference to the graduates of the foreign educational institutions, including Russian institutions, in employing people. Presently nearly 3600 Azerbaijanis are studying at the Russian higher educational institutions.
One more reason that the young people do not work on their specialties is their wish earn much at once. For instance, currently the young people enter the medical universities not for working as doctor of urgent medical aid, and the graduates of the pedagogical universities do not want to work as teacher at secondary schools. They wish to work in prestigious clinics and colleges and it is not easy to find a high-salary job at once.
Some 40 to 60% of graduates in European countries have been provided with jobs, while in Azerbaijan this figure is 5-7%.
Therefore, it needs to improve the quality of education for professional training of the specialists. Resolving this problem will assist in introducing new 'professional standards' which meet international standards.
Azerbaijan incurs huge loses for education of the students who can not find jobs for their diplomas. Huge expenses on the education process and zero of pay-back make it necessary to fully reconsider the approach to the education system. The higher educational institutions should themselves be interested in ensuring qualitative education on the specialties demanded by the labor market. It may be made possible through investing in education and allocating funds for the reconsideration of the old education programs. A flexible system of financing higher education should be devised in the Country.
The growth of the unemployment leads not only to the economic loses for the young generation and also for individuals and families of the young citizens. Scientific-technological and professional potential of the enterprises decreases and bases deteriorate for the future economic growth.
The number of the unemployed in Azerbaijan may increase due to the country's entrance into the World Trade Organization. It is therefore necessary to take immediate measures to prevent any crisis and create qualitative labor potential and train staffs who are capable to compete. Currently the problem of unemployment amongst young people has been envisaged to be resolved within State Youth Program of Azerbaijan and 30 normative acts for its realization.
The work with the unemployed young people who lack social protection may make a significant contribution to the further development of the economy.