For 8 years, unemployment fell nearly 8 percents. From 36 percents at the end of 2006, the unemployment rate in the first quarter of this year dropped to 28.4 percents, the lowest ever. Statisticians registered continuously reducing of unemployment, writes Lider.
By analyzing the data of the State Statistic Office, published over the years, it can be concluded that the unemployment rate is periodically increased and decreased. The highest unemployment rates in the country were registered in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
In 2005, the unemployment rate reached fantastic 37.3 percents, and only 323,934 citizens who fall into the category active population were unemployed.
According to the latest data of statistics, which refer to the first three months of this year, the labor force has 958,392 people, out of which 686,277 were employed and 272,115 unemployed.
Active measures reduce the unemployment
Measures of self-employment, subsidized employment, loans for companies that will create new jobs for young people, training atknown employer. Active employment measures produce results.
"From 2007 to date, over 64 thousand people visited the measures implemented by the State Agency for Employment, whether it is training at known employer for obtaining grant, for crediting or subsidy. We have reached about 34 thousand jobs, and currently are employed over 24 thousand people. It is high percentage of employment. Annually, from four to five thousand people who participated in our operating plan for active measures and programs remain at work and work for themselves and their families "- explains the director of SAE, Vlatko Popovski.
Foreign investments to lower unemployment
In the past years have entered several large global companies that have opened up new jobs and contributed to reducing unemployment. Free economic zones began to be filled with investors. In Bunargjic are working giants "Johnson Matthey", "Johnson Controls", "Kemet – Electronics", "Van Hull," "Teknohoze" and "Prodis" and are announced new investments in companies that from come from Turkey and Italy. In Zhabeni operate giant "Kromberg & Schubert", in Kavadarci "Drekselmajer" and "Johnson Controls" opened new factory in Shtip, where they will soon find their place "Kumalo" and "Tehnikal textiles". Foreign investors are spreading across the country. KSS chose Kichevo for production of airbags, while "ODV Electric" has already started to send workers from Ohrid – Struga region on training in Ukraine. Only the last two companies will create 2,000 jobs.
In the past 4-5 years, foreign investors opened over 10,000 new jobs, creating several thousand indirect jobs as result of the inclusion of domestic companies in the production chain of foreigners. Such is the case with Struga "Uniplast", which works as a supplier of "Van Hull".
"We are entering in serious reorganization of the production process. We will increase our capacity, and we will need new workers "- explains Bojan Kovachevski from "Uniplast".
The effect of foreign investment on reducing unemployment is expected to be felt especially after the entry of multinational "Weibo" group in the northeast of Macedonia. It is investment of $ 400 million, which should bring 5,000 jobs. At the meeting with the management of "Weibo" in China, the Prime Minister was informed that except for the construction of integrated textile zone, the company plans to open two more factories to produce steel and metal profiles necessary for the construction industry.
During the four-year term, the Government announced at least thirty new foreign investment that should create 10,000 new jobs. The level of FDI is expected to range from 350 to 430 million per year by 2015, between 490 and 550 million euro by 2018, provided it does not happen new external shock. Old-new setting committed in the coming four years to work on creating 64 thousand new jobs.
(Kurir News Agency)