An event on "Labor market challenges and vision for the future in Azerbaijan" has been held , jointly organized by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication and the World Bank. The experts of World Bank delivered a presentation on the country’s labor market policy and goals and relevant ministries and development partners attended the event.

Opening the event, Vusal Gasimli, Executive Director of CAERC, praised the World Bank's support for the development of this sector in Azerbaijan and informed about the programs implemented by the state, the Employment Strategy and social reforms. He noted that, one of the key factors for the development of the country's labor market is the transition from low-productivity to high-productivity sectors, the reduction of the informal economy through tax reforms and the introduction of a result-oriented social protection system and purposeful policy is being implemented by the state in these areas.

Sarah Michael,  World Bank’s country manager for Azerbaijan emphasizing the importance of the 30-year partnership between Azerbaijan and the World Bank, said that employment and social protection are at the pillars of society and the World Bank's Country Strategy, which is being developed, will prioritize cooperation in this area.

Speaking at the opening session, Chairman of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan Orkhan Mammadov said that the transition to digital economy increases the importance of new knowledge and skills and advanced education in the labor market   and for this purpose, large-scale trainings conducted by SMBDA throughout the country are aimed at protecting the interests of micro, small and medium entrepreneurs, providing them with all necessary services in a professional and convenient manner, expanding the targeting and coverage of support, coordination of services provided to entrepreneurs.

Chairman of the Board of State Employment Agency Mustafa Abbasbeyli noted that,  flexibility and adaptability of the education sector are essential to meet the needs of the labor market. With this purpose, improving the quality of education and the application of innovative approaches, in particular, increasing the coverage of digital employment in the country, improving vocational education can help achieve ambitious goals such as reducing unemployment to 4%. He praised the support provided by the WB and  the UN’s Development Program in this area and stressed the importance of achieving the goal of increasing digital employment to 90% in 6 more projects which will be implemented in 2022, as well as supporting active employment through unemployment insurance, benefits and low-income compensation mechanisms.

Senior Economist of World Bank Javier Sanchez – Reaza  and  Senior Social Protection Specialist Mirey Ovadiya delivered a presentation on  "Labor market challenges and vision for the future in Azerbaijan". Global Practice Manager for  Social Protection and Jobs of the World Bank Group  Cem Mete stressed the importance of timely response of supply to demand in the labor market and stressed the need for a diagnostic analysis of demand in the labor market across the country. He talked about the identification of professions that will be needed in the future at a time when traditional fields and skills are replaced by machines, and the practice of other countries in this field.

The discussion session of the event continued with the participation of representatives of government agencies and the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Azerbaijan.