The jobs market in Azerbaijan has not been affected by negative global trends and the financial crisis and unemployment is below the international rate, it is claimed.

Despite recent concerns raised by both the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Labor Organization (ILO), the nation's Trend news agency reported that more paid positions have been created in recent years, with joblessness standing at 5.5 per cent.

Head of its analytic center Ellada Khankishiyeva explained that the state program in Azerbaijan provided 190,412 new roles between January 2009 and July 1st 2011, including 139,697 permanent jobs.

Of these, 43,790 employment opportunities were created in the first six months of 2011, with 73.4 per cent established in regions of the country and the private sector leading job creation.

A joint study produced by the ILO and the OECD has forecast a slow increase in employment around the world between now and 2015, a rate that may not replace the paid roles lost during the downturn.

Posted by Lee Thrace