Belarus expects a decrease in registered unemployment during the summer months – Ministry of Labour

June 10, Minsk /Elena Prus - BELTA/. Belarus anticipates a decrease in registered unemployment during the summer months. This was announced to BELTA correspondent by Oleg Tokun, Head of the Employment Policy Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.

According to operational data, the number of registered unemployed decreased by 0.6 thousand people in May, standing at 21.9 thousand people as of June 1, 2014 (an 8.7% decrease compared to June 1, 2013). "A reduction in the inflow of job seekers to the employment service and, consequently, a decrease in registered unemployment are expected in the summer," said Oleg Tokun. "This is due to an increase in the number of vacancies in the country and a revival in seasonal employment. However, the imbalance between labour supply and demand persists."

He stressed that no mass layoffs are expected during the summer months. In January-May, 1.2 thousand laid-off workers were registered as unemployed. "Labour, employment and social protection bodies are prepared to assist them with both employment and vocational training in specialties that are in demand on the labour market," assured the ministry representative.

As of June 1, 2014, registered unemployment in Belarus remained at 0.5% of the economically active population. This figure has been stable for a year. In May, unemployment decreased by 0.1 percentage points in Minsk, from 0.2% to 0.1%. In other regions, it remained unchanged: 0.7% in the Vitebsk and Gomel regions, 0.6% in the Brest, Grodno, and Mogilev regions, and 0.5% in the Minsk region.

As of June 1, 2014, there were 56.7 thousand vacant jobs in the country, based on employer requests, an increase of 3.2 thousand in May. The majority of vacancies, as before, are for blue-collar workers (77%). Labour market tightness in the republic (the number of unemployed per vacancy) is 0.4.

In January-May of the current year, assistance was provided in employment for 58.9 thousand people in newly created jobs and available vacancies, including 44.9 thousand unemployed individuals. 19.4 thousand people participated in paid public works, of which 11.3 thousand were unemployed. Labour, employment and social protection bodies directed 4.4 thousand people to vocational training over the five months. To stimulate labour mobility of citizens, assistance was provided in relocating 118 families of unemployed individuals to new places of residence and work in January-May.

As previously reported by BELTA, the Council of Ministers has approved the State Programme for Employment Promotion of the Population of the Republic of Belarus for 2014, with a funding volume of Br277 billion 82.4 million. The main feature of the new state programme is a reorientation towards solving employment problems and increasing the competitiveness of unemployed citizens, and promoting the employment of target population groups in need of social support. Special attention is paid to measures for integrating target population groups needing additional employment guarantees into the labour sphere. The emphasis is placed on ensuring employment for youth, long-term unemployed citizens, and individuals returning from places of detention. -0-

News of Belarus (BELTA)