Social sector in Azerbaijan (January-August 2015)

Population's income

According to the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee, the nominal income of the population totaled 26.675 billion manat in January-August 2015, which is 5.9 percent more compared to January-August 2014.

Thus, during this period, the nominal income of the population per capita increased by 4.5 percent and hit 2537,8 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 24.130 billion manat, which is 5.7 percent more than in the same period of 2014. Real income per capita increased by 4.5 percent to 2537,8 manat.

Azerbaijani citizens spent 75 percent to purchase goods and services, 9.5 percent - to pay for taxes, duties, loans, social and insurance fees, 2.8 percent - to pay off the loans and mandatory membership dues, 12.7 percent - to accumulate the capital during this period.

The population's expenditure amounted to 23.287 billion manat in January-August 2015 or 3.388 billion manat less than the income of the population but by 18.1 percent more than the expenditure of the population in January-August 2014 (according to the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee, Trend's calculations.

The gap in income and expenditure of the population in favor of income testifies to the growth of material well-being of Azerbaijani citizens. The differentiation in the 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 Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee, the average monthly salary in Azerbaijan in January-July 2015 comprised 458.9 manat compared to 440.8 manat as of the same period of 2014.

As of August 1, 2015, the average salary in the oil sector amounted to 2085,6 manat per month, while in non-oil sector - 419 manat, in the public sector - 356.8 manat, in the private sector - 601.5 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-July 2015, around 92,700 people were involved in the construction sector of Azerbaijan. The nominal salary in the construction sector amounted to 665.2 manat.

Labor market

According to the State Statistics Committee, as of early September 2015, the economically active population is 4.884 million people, of which 4.648 million people were engaged in labor activity. In this case, as of September 1, 2015, the number of hired persons is 1.508 million people, including 877,300 people worked in the public sector, and 630,700 people - in private sector.

The number of people working in the oil sector amounted to 35,400 people, in the non-oil sector - 1.473 million people.

Around 21.9 percent fall to the hired employees involved in the production spheres: 6.7 percent in construction, 6.5 percent in manufacturing industry, 3 percent in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 2.3 percent - in the mining industry, 1.7 percent - in the production and distribution of electricity, gas and steam, 1.7 percent - in water supply, waste recycling, 22.2 percent in education, 18.9 percent - trade, repair of vehicles, 8.8 percent - medical and social services, 6.7 percent in state governance and defense, social maintenance, 4.9 percent - transportation and warehousing, 3.8 percent - recreation, entertainment and arts, 3.8 percent - professional, scientific and technical activities, 1.8 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.

As of September 1, 2015, some 29,000 people were officially registered as unemployed in Azerbaijan, including 38.7 percent women.

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

As of September 1, 2015, the largest number of unemployed (633 of 11,755 people received benefits) was registered in 12 administrative districts of Baku and 18 regions of Aran economic region (7,304 and 408 respectively).

The number of the unemployed decreased because the State Employment Service of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Labor and Social Protection conducted the job fairs. So, the job fairs were held in six regions of the country in August. A job fair was held in Oguz region August 20, in Hajigabul August 21, in Kurdamir, Jalilabad, Shabran regions and the city of Shirvan August 28.

The vacancies in offices, institutions and organizations of these regions were offered to the job seekers.

Moreover, the individuals, wishing to participate in the professional training courses and additional education, paid public work were registered during these fairs.

According to the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee, in August 2015, the unemployment benefit in Azerbaijan increased by 2.7 percent compared to July. Taking into account the negative inflation during a month (0.1 percent), the real amount of the benefit increased by 2.8 percent.

As of September 1, 2015, the unemployment benefit hit 250.8 manat compared to 244.2 manat as of August 1.

As of September 1, 2015, some 2,125 people received the benefit compared to 2,294 people as of August 1.

Social Security

Azerbaijan is taking all necessary actions to strengthen the social security of the population. In particular, some 117,846 families or 511,963 citizens were provided with the state targeted social assistance in Azerbaijan in August 2015 or by 8.2 percent or 10,561 families (49,433 people) less than in August 2014.

According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the average amount of the monthly targeted social assistance per family for the period increased by 17.2 percent or 22.27 manat compared to August 2014 and amounted to 151.68 manat.

During this period, some 243,085 people under 18 years old, including 5,640 people with disabilities and 5,838 children under 1 year old were provided with the targeted social assistance in Azerbaijan. Some 33,433 families, receiving the targeted social assistance, have three or more children.