How employment issues are being addressed in the regions of the Vitebsk region in the context of the coronavirus pandemic
Chashniki: Specialists are Always in Demand
According to Alexander Kosov, Chairman of the Chashniki District Council of Deputies, the situation in the local labor market remains stable. Since the beginning of the year, about 250 people have been employed. The number of vacancies has increased to 240. Three new small businesses have opened, creating 20 jobs. The stability of the employment situation is ensured by the positive dynamics achieved in 2019 across most employment indicators, thanks to which the district has been excluded from the list of regions with a tense labor market situation.
As of January 1, 2020, there were 20 unemployed individuals registered in the district. Last year, over a thousand citizens applied to the employment service for employment assistance.
The region managed to reduce the average employment period to 1.6 months, with an average unemployment duration of 3.5 months. The expansion of employment opportunities was due to a 20% increase in vacancies compared to 2018. The district most needs educational psychologists, doctors, and mid-level medical personnel, and accountants. In the real sector of the economy, veterinarians and zootechnicians are most in demand. In general, the demand for qualified personnel is growing, noted Alexander Kosov. Last year, organizations hired 2037 people, which is about 2% more than in 2018, and dismissed almost 8% fewer, ensuring an increase in the labor force replacement rate, which was around one.
In Chashniki District, less than 1% of the total number of employees worked under forced part-time employment. According to the Chairman of the District Council, the number of full-day downtime significantly decreased. Personnel diagnostics of organizations was constantly carried out to identify potentially redundant staff and prevent inefficient use of labor resources. This allowed for timely measures to be taken to employ specialists dismissed due to organizational staff optimization. Thus, the district has developed and effectively uses a mechanism for relocating unemployed individuals, primarily to rural areas where there are open vacancies.
One of the key indicators of work efficiency is the employment of citizens in newly created jobs. In 2019, seven new enterprises were launched, hiring 185 people (the target was exceeded by more than 23%). Almost 86% of the total number of unemployed individuals directed by the employment service for retraining underwent training commissioned by employers.
A reduction in the number of applications to the employment service for registration as unemployed, active work with employers to form a vacancy bank, and a number of other organizational aspects have helped reduce the level of tension in the labor market in the district. At the beginning of 2020, this indicator was 0.05%. The constantly operating coordination commission for promoting employment of the population under the district executive committee plays an important role in this process. Since its establishment, the commission has assisted in the employment of over 5,000 citizens, specified Alexander Kosov.
Dokshitsy: An Individual Approach Yields Results
Extensive information and awareness activities have been organized in the Dokshitsy district to engage the economically inactive population in employment. However, as noted by Valentina Randarevich, Chairperson of the District Council of Deputies, an individual approach is most effective for a district with a small population. Village council chairpersons work with each individual in need to explore possible employment options. The results are analyzed at meetings of the district commission for employment promotion, with the participation of unemployed individuals.
The effectiveness of such work in the district is evidenced by a threefold increase in the number of self-employed citizens in 2019.
Local residents most actively use the opportunity to legally work without registering as individual entrepreneurs during the summer period. In addition, small businesses are growing in number. Over the first four months of the current year, the number of individual entrepreneurs increased by more than 20% compared to the same period in 2019.
Special attention is paid to citizens who are unable to compete equally in the labor market. For example, last year, 34 individuals from among those most in need of social protection were registered as unemployed. These include parents in single-parent large families raising children with disabilities, pre-retirement age citizens, disabled individuals, persons released from places of deprivation of liberty, as well as those seeking work for the first time. All were provided with employment assistance, including two who were sent for training and subsequently registered as individual entrepreneurs. Only three refused the services of the employment service. Similar work is being carried out in the current year.
— Of course, it is easier to assist motivated citizens, those who want to find employment, — emphasized Valentina Randarevich.
Individuals exhibiting antisocial behavior remain a problematic category. Law enforcement officers provide effective assistance in working with them, monitoring such individuals at home and during the initial days at a new place of employment. Local authorities also face difficulties with citizens who are registered but have not resided in the Dokshytsy district for a long time. According to the chairman of the district council, out of 39 such local residents, only 25 have confirmed employment, and information on 12 is still missing. Here, district authorities are counting on the assistance of migration services.
"Vitebskiye Vesti". Photo from open sources.