Total funding for 11 programs of Armenian State Employment Agency is 2.3 bln AMD

ArmInfo. In Jan-June 2016, 11 support programs of the State Employment Agency of the Armenian Ministry of Labor and Social Issues involved 8468 citizens (including 580 persons with disabilities), which is equal to 8.8% of the total number of job-seekers, Head of the State Employment Agency Artak Mangasaryan said at a press conference on August 17. He noted that the total amount allocated for implementation of 11 programs of employment support for uncompetitive persons who seek a job and the citizens who have the status of unemployed made up 2.3 bln AMD.

Mangasaryan stressed the efficiency of the programs and said that the program "Partial salary compensation to the employer in case of employing persons uncompetitive in the labor market" involves 235 unemployed citizens. The program "Compensation of material expenses of the unemployed in connection with business mission to some other residential area" involves 9 unemployed citizens. The program " Partial salary compensation to the employer in case of employing persons uncompetitive in the labor market" includes 356 citizens. The program " Professional training courses for job- seekers" involves 1009 citizens. The program helping unemployed to get experience in their specialty involves 191. The program providing financial support to uncompetitive persons engaged in small entrepreneurship includes 5 unemployed. The program supporting uncompetitive persons engaged in cattle breeding includes 21 unemployed.

The program supporting farm enterprises by stimulating seasonal employment includes 6016 persons, with contracts signed with 4638 of them. The financial support to them made up 290 thsd AMD. Mangasaryan said that due to this program a total of 7193 ha of land has been cultivated. Thanks to the new pilot program "Organization of paid public works", 165 citizens were placed in job. 46 businessmen and 5610 job-seekers took part in the program "Organization of job fairs", with 131 employment contracts signed.  

At the same time, Mangasaryan presented the statistics, which says that in Jan-June 2016 as many as 4757 citizens were placed in job (up 4.2% versus Jan-June 2015). As of 1 July 2016, there are 96.4 thsd unemployed, or 81.2% of the total number of job-seekers. He noted that the share of women in the total number of unemployed is 68.6%, youth - 24.5% and citizens with disabilities - 3.5%.

According to the updates forecast of the Central Bank of Armenia, in 2016 unemployment will make up 18.3% versus the previously expected 18.1%, with further annual decline by 0.2% in 2017-2018. In 2016 the minimum salary will not be increased. According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, in 2013-2015 unemployment in Armenia rose from 16.2% to 18.5%: in 2015 - 18.5%, in 2014 - 17.6%, in 2013 - 16.2%.