DUSHANBE, January 27, 2014, Asia-Plus -- According to the State Agency of Social Protection, Employment and Migration, a total of 119,189 persons contacted the Agency for assistance with employment last year.

Of this total, 71,168 individuals were registered as job seekers and 51,403 were officially registered as unemployed.

In 2013, 37,903 people were provided with jobs, which is 31.8% of the total number of people who applied.  The main reasons for providing a limited number of people with jobs were that the majority of unemployed do not have the necessary technical training or have lost skills due to prolonged unemployment, and the low level of wages offered by employers.

In 2013, unemployment benefits were reportedly provided to 8,145 people for a total of 3.274 somoni (equivalent to 599.6 USD) per person.  Including carryover from 2012, on January 1, 2013 a total of 77,878 persons were registered with the Agency as looking for work, including 53,870 registered as unemployed.  Last year, 19,592 people were reportedly sent to vocational trainings, 4,682 were people provided with social-paid jobs and 4,682 people were provided with soft loans to start business.

According to the State Agency for Social Protection, Employment and Migration, 205,333 new jobs were created in Tajikistan last year, which is 55.3% more than in 2012 (132,251).