Social sector in Azerbaijan (January-April 2015)

Population's income

According to the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee, the nominal income of the population totaled 12.649 billion manat in January-April 2015, which is 5.7 percent more compared to January-April 2014.

Thus, during this period, the nominal income of the population per capita increased by 4.4 percent and hit 1.333 manat.

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 11.413 billion manat, which is 5.6 percent more than in the same period of 2014. Real income per capita increased by 4.4 percent to 1202,7 manat.

Azerbaijani citizens spent 74.4 percent to purchase goods and services, 9.8 percent - to pay for taxes, duties, loans, social and insurance fees, 2.1 percent - to pay off the loans and mandatory membership dues, 13.7 percent - to accumulate the capital during this period.

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-April 2015 comprised 449.5 manat compared to 434.3 manat as of the same period of 2014.

As of April 1, 2015, the average salary in the oil sector amounted to 1879.6 manat per month, while in non-oil sector - 413.9 manat, in the public sector - 351.0 manat, in the private sector - 588.3 manat.

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 January-March 2015, around 91,100 people were involved in the construction sector of Azerbaijan. The nominal salary in the construction sector amounted to 668.1 manat, which is 9 percent more than in the same period of last year.

The average salary in the public sector amounted to 483.3 manat (2 percent decrease during a year), while in the private sector - 737.4 manat (10.5 percent growth).

The salary in the field of building construction decreased by 4.6 percent - an average of 531 manat, while the salary in the specialized construction increased by 38 percent - up to 1214,7 manat. The salary in the field of civil construction work increased by 6.4 percent - up to 498.6 manat in January-March 2015.

Azerbaijan pays special attention to the social sector. The well-thought-out economic reforms are complemented by a strong social policy. So, despite a decline in the country's state revenues from the sale of oil, the funds obtained in the previous years and the well-thought-out policy, the development of non-oil sector and drawing of foreign investments allow the country to fulfill all social obligations and to implement important projects even in terms of revenue decline.

In particular, the salaries of university professors have increased up to 1,450 manat per month since April 1. Some 1,200 people's salaries increased. These people are in the teaching staff of the university. The salary of a dean of a faculty will be 1,450 manat, the salary of a head of a department - 1,300 manat, professor's salary - 1,200 manat, associate professor's salary - 1,050 manat, a leading teacher's salary - 810 manat, the salary of an assistant and a teacher - 750 manat.

Labor market

As of May 1, 2015, some 29,200 people were officially registered as unemployed in Azerbaijan, including 39.1 percent women, the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee's report said.

According to the report, the number of unemployed in the country has decreased by 21.5 percent since the beginning of the year compared to the same period of 2014. The average monthly amount of the unemployment benefit in Azerbaijan is 248.3 manat

Distribution of unemployed individuals and those who receive unemployment benefit in towns and regions as of May 1, 2015 (people):

According to the State Statistics Committee, as of early May 2015, the economically active population is 4.856 million people, of which 4.619 million people were engaged in labor activity. In this case, as of May 1, 2015, the number of hired persons is 1.507 million people, including 879,200 people worked in the public sector, and 627,800 people - in private sector.

The number of people working in the oil sector amounted to 35,700 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, 6.5 percent in manufacturing industry, 2.9 percent in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 2.3 percent - in the mining industry, 1.9 percent - in the production and distribution of electricity, gas and steam, 1.7 percent - in water supply, waste recycling, 22.4 percent in education, 18.9 percent - trade, repair of vehicles, 8.7 percent - medical and social services, 6.7 percent in state governance and defense, social maintenance, 4.7 percent - transportation and warehousing, 3.8 percent - recreation, entertainment and arts, 3.8 percent - professional, scientific and technical activities, 1.7 percent - communication and information, 2.1 percent - financial and insurance activities, 0.9 percent - real estate transactions, 1.6 percent - administrative and additional services, 1.5 percent - tourist accommodation and catering and 1.1 percent - other areas.

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Labor and Social Protection continues taking measures to reduce unemployment in the country. Thus, the job fair, held by the ministry for the students and graduates in April, is paradoxical. Despite the information about the staff reduction by the commercial organizations, the biggest employers in the country have a large number of free vacancies.

Some 103 companies (15 from the public sector and 88 from the private sector) presented 630 vacancies at the fair. The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), Baku Shipyard, Azercell, Bakcell, Azerfon, Akkord industrial and construction investment company, Garadagh Cement, Norm, Baku Electronics, Parabank, Embawood are among them.

Social Security

According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, as of May 1, the targeted social assistance was rendered to 113,455 families (494,892 people), which is by 19 percent (26,774 families or 116,694 people) less than in January-March 2014.

A decrease in the number of beneficiaries increased the amount of the targeted social assistance by 14.5 percent. As of May 1, the targeted social assistance hit 144.98 manat per family per month or 33.24 manat per beneficiary on average.

According to the Azerbaijani president's decree as of April, the State Social Protection Fund provided the veterans of the Great Patriotic War with one-time material assistance. The veterans of the Great Patriotic War were provided with one-time financial assistance in the amount of 800 manat. The widows of the militants killed in the war or died later, the individuals awarded with orders and medals for selfless actions in the rear, the representatives of special forces, operating in the interests of the army and navy during the World War II, the individuals awarded with the appropriate medals for the defense of Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War and the participants of the siege of Leningrad were provided with 400 manat. Some 8.3 million manat envisaged in the state budget-2015 were allocated for these purposes from the presidential reserve fund.

The total number of persons who received one-time financial assistance in the amount of 800 manat was 1,342, while in the amount of 400 manat - 17,539.

The largest amount of one-time financial assistance to the veterans of the Great Patriotic War among the CIS countries is observed in Azerbaijan. Thus, the amount of this assistance in Russia is 138 manat, Belarus - 750 manat, Kazakhstan - 570 manat, Uzbekistan - 295 manat.