Social sector in Azerbaijan (January-February 2012)

Population's income

According to the data provided by the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee, in January-February 2012, the nominal income of the population totaled 4.543.7 billion manat which is 13.6 percent more as compared to January-February 2011.

Thus, during this period, the nominal income of the population per capita increased by 12.0 percent to 497.9 manat.

The growth rate of income per capita exceeded the growth in consumer prices by 8.3 percent.

Major indices, characterizing income of the population

Source: State Statistics Committee

In January-February 2012, Azerbaijani citizens distributed their income in following way: 70.6 percent on purchase of goods and services, 9.8 percent - payment of taxes, duties and fees, 17.3 percent - capital accumulation.

Real income after the payment of taxes and membership fees made up 4.1 bln manat or 13.4 percent more than the sale period of 2011. Real income per capita made up 446.2 manat with a growth of 11.9 percent.

Thus, during the reported period the money expenditure in Jan.-Feb. 2012 comprised 3.653.1 bln manat or 890.6 million manat less than the income of population, but 9.8 percent more than the expenses in the same period of 2011. (Source: State Statistics Committee, calculations by Trend).

The gap in the amount of revenues and expenditures of the population in favor of income, testifies to the growth of material well-being of Azerbaijani citizens. The differentiation in population's income and the availability of the Gini coefficient in the country should be taken into account.

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 data provided by the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan, the amount of average monthly salary in Azerbaijan in January 2012 comprised 368.4 or 8.5 percent more than the same period of 2011.

The highest salary accounts for extractive industry, finance and real estate operations, rent services.

During the period part-time employees' salary in enterprises and organizations of the country amounted to 198.9 manat. The average salary of the persons employed under the contract amounted to 355.4 manat.

Labor market

According to the data provided by the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan, there were 38,700 unemployed people, with 42.8 percent women. Three unemployed claim for one vacancy in the country.

As of March 1, 2012, able-bodied citizens in Azerbaijan made up 4,629.

By the beginning of the year the real level of unemployment was estimated at 5.4 percent.

As of March 1, 2012, able-bodied citizens in Azerbaijan made up 4.380.4 million including 1.361.7 million people as hired workers. Of the hired people, 844,700 people work in the public sector and 517,000 - in private.

Of the hired employees involved in the production spheres: 21.4 percent in industry, 2.6 percent in extracting, 6 percent in processing, 6 percent in construction, 2.9 percent in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 2.2 percent - the generation and distribution of electricity, gas and steam, 1.7 percent - water supply and treatment, 3.9 percent - recreation, entertainment and art, and 3.2 percent - scientific and technical activities, 4.1 percent - public administration and defense, social security, 1.8 percent - administrative services, 1.3 percent - tourism and catering, 24.6 percent in education, 19.9 percent in wholesale and retail trade, repair of automobiles, home wares and personal things, 9.7 percent in health and social services, 4.8 percent in transport, 1.8 percent - in communications, 0.8 percent - in real estate operations, 1.6 percent in financial and insurance activities and 1.1 percent in other spheres.

Distribution of unemployed individuals and those who receive unemployment benefit in towns and regions as of March 1, 2012 (people)

Source: State Statistics Committee

As of March 1, 2012 the largest number of unemployed was registered in Baku (12,805 people, of which 611 people received unemployment benefits) and eighteen regions of Aran economic region (10,278 and 354 people respectively).

In Feb., the unemployment benefit in Azerbaijan fell by 0.8 percent compared to Jan., and hit 205.3 manat.

Taking into account the consumer price inflation per month (0.1 percent), the actual amount of benefits fell by 0.9 percent.

As of March 1, 2012, the benefit was received by 1,779 people compared to 1,466 people as of Feb. 1, 1,002 people by the beginning of the year and 87 people as of Jan. 1, 2011.