KHUJAND, July 23, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- In January-June 2008, the number of officially registered unemployed in Khujand, Sughd province has decreased from 2,023 to 1,835, Abduhalim Vahhobov, a chief specialist with the Khujand agency for employment, migration and social protection of the population, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.  

According to him, reduction in the number of officially registered unemployed in the city is connected with the fact that they have been taken off the books because of leaving the country in search of seasonal work.

“At present, we have information about 356 job vacancies offered by local industrial enterprises and organizations,” said Vahhobov, “The ore refinery Anzob, for example, promises to pay drilling technicians 1,700 somonis per month.  Eight other industrial enterprises promise to pay 550 somonis to the needed specialists.”  

            Khujand is experiencing shortage of medical personnel, especially nurses, the chief specialist said.  “However, the wage rate in the health sector is very low; nurses, for example, receive little more than 26 somonis per month,” Vahhobov said.