WORLD FINANCIAL CRISIS RESULTS IN SHARP GROWTH OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-01-26 14:41:00

ArmInfo. World financial crisis has resulted in sharp growth of
unemployment in Armenia.

Sona Haroutiunyan, Head of the State Employment Service Agency
said at a press conference at Friday Club that by the data for late
2008 large-scale axing of jobs was registered in the country. The
highest level of unemployment was registered in the regions of Lori
and Syunik due to slackening of the mining industry. As of January
20 2009, 414 jobs were cut, 1603 people were notified of dismissal
and another 1609 were dismissed on the basis of own letters of
resignation or in connection with expiry of labor contracts. In
particular, S. Haroutiunyan said GPM cut 84 jobs, ArmenTel – 82
jobs, Armenian Center of Scientific-Technical Information – 180. To
show a more precise picture of the situation in the labor market,
the following data are brought: As compared to Dec 2007 in Jan 2008
the number of people searching jobs decreased. Now, the dynamics is
quite different. Thus, in Dec 2008 the number of people searching
jobs totaled 90.5 thousand whereas on Jan 23 2009 they numbered
already 95,000. The number of the unemployed increased by 400 people
as against last year and totaled 75.000 people. The share of women is
still high. Sona Haroutiunyan believes that another 500-1000 people
may become unemployed in Feb-Mar 2009.