Unemployment rate in Uzbekistan was 9.3 percent in January-December 2018

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Following the results of the survey, the unemployment rate was 9.3 percent of the economically active population, which is 0.3 percentage points higher than in January-September 2018 (9.0%), the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations said.

In Kashkadarya, Samarkand and Ferghana regions, the highest unemployment rate was recorded, amounting to 9.7%, the lowest - in Tashkent city (7.9%). The number of people in need of employment reached 1.36 million people.

The unemployment rate among young people (under 30) was 15.1%, among young people aged 16–25 exceeded 17.0%, the level of female unemployment was 12.9%.

It should be borne in mind that the increase in unemployment compared to the same period of 2017 (3.5%) is not associated with a sharp increase in unemployment, but with the improvement of the accounting methodology for the unemployed population, which made it possible to take full account of those who need employment.

The number of labor resources made up 18.83 million people, which grew by 0.1 percent compared to January-September 2018. The number of economically active population reached 14.64 million people. (+0.3%), and the economically inactive population – 4.19 million people. (-0.5%).

The number of people employed in economic sectors reached 13.27 million people. (-0.1%). The number of people employed in the official sector of the economy was 5.4 million people. (+0.9%).

The decline in those who left to work outside the republic compared to January-September 2018 is 208,900 people (8.1%).

Improving the methodology of household surveys made it possible to determine more reliable indicators of employment in the informal sector – 7.87 million people (59.3% of the total number of employed), of which employed in temporary one-off and seasonal work – 1.69 million people, as well as persons, who left for work outside the republic – 2.38 million people.

In January-December 2018, 626,480 persons (245,225 among the youth aged 16–30 years) applied for employment, of which 255,539 were employed, 355,869 were sent to public works, professional retraining - 20,543; unemployment benefit was assigned to 14,477 persons.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations continues to conduct regular surveys of the labor market in order to carry out a comprehensive analysis, qualitative and objective assessment of the quantity and quality of labor resources, as well as the effectiveness of measures to ensure employment and employment of the population. In December 2018, a survey was conducted to study labor migration issues, the results of which will be presented in February 2019.