MINSK, 12 January (BelTA) - As of 1 January 2016 Belarus' jobless rate remained at 1% of the workforce, BelTA learned from deputy head of the employment department at the Labor and Social Security Ministry Galina Grinchuk.
Registered unemployment in December remained unchanged in all Belarusian regions: 1.2% in Gomel Oblast, 1.1% in Brest, Vitebsk, Grodno and Mogilev Oblasts, 0.9% in Minsk Oblast and 0.6% in Minsk.
According to the specialist, there were no drastic changes on the labor market in December 2015. “Traditionally this month is known for a small amount of addresses to the employment service and a low increase in the registration of unemployed. The analysis of the situation in the previous years show that January is characterized by a slight increase in vacancies and registered unemployed,” Galina Grinchuk said. However, the current jobless rate is unlikely to change and will not exceed 1% as of 1 February 2016.
The specialist named new trends on the labor market. Earlier three fourths of vacancies were blue collar jobs. Today the percentage of such jobs has fallen to 50.9%. In general, the vacancy rate stood at 30,200 as of 1 November 2015, 29,300 as of 1 December 2015. The data for 1 January 2016 showed 28,700 vacancies, 14.6% down from 1 January 2015.
In December the number of people out of work rose slightly from 43,200 to 43,300.
In 2015 a total of 151,800 (of them 107,400 unemployed) were placed to work. An estimated 8,700 people were placed into training and retraining courses. Some 55,300 people took part in paid social work.
A total of 250,600 people addressed the employment services in 2015. Of them 182,100 people were registered as unemployed and 3,200 as redundant workers.
As was earlier informed, the unemployment rate in Belarus will stay within 2% to economically active population in 2016-2020. The national employment policy for the next five years focuses on the enhancement of the efficient use of the labor potential. Creating necessary conditions for it will make the basis of the subprogram on assisting employment. This subprogram, currently developed, will make part of the state program on social security and employment promotion in 2016-2020.
