In the Vitebsk region in 2018, the number of registered unemployed decreased by almost half

In the Vitebsk region in 2018, the number of registered unemployed people decreased by 1.7 times. This was announced by the Chairman of the Committee for Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Khristoforov, at a meeting on the results of the system's work in 2018 and on the tasks for 2019.

"In 2018, the number of registered unemployed decreased. If on January 1 of last year there were 3.5 thousand unemployed registered, then at the beginning of the current year there were 2 thousand people, which is 1.7 times less. 29.8 thousand people sought assistance in employment, which is 17% less compared to 2017," noted Alexander Khristoforov. In addition, during the year, there was an increase in demand for labor. Thus, as of January 1, 2019, more than 6 thousand vacancies were announced in the region, with the share of blue-collar professions accounting for 64.3% of the total number. "The largest number of vacant jobs were announced by enterprises in manufacturing industries (24%), agriculture, forestry, and fishing (18.5%), construction (11%), healthcare and social services (10%)," reported the Chairman of the Committee for Labor, Employment and Social Protection.

According to preliminary data, in 2018, 6520 people were employed in newly created jobs due to new production facilities and enterprises, and 215 unemployed received subsidies to organize their own businesses. The Vitebsk region is inhabited by 1.172 million people, of whom 682 thousand are labor resources. The database of able-bodied but not employed in the economy includes 69.9 thousand residents.

Andrei Shcherbitsky, BELTA.