DUSHANBE, October 18, 2013, Asia-Plus -- The State Agency for Social Protection, Employment and Migration reports that a total of 93,375 persons have contacted the Agency for assistance with employment over the first nine months of this year.

Of this total, 56,040 individuals were registered as job seekers and 39,957 were officially registered as unemployed.

During the first nine months of this year, 30,476 people were placed in jobs, or 32.6% of those 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.

Over the first nine months of 2013, unemployment benefits have been provided to 6,696 people for a total of 2,573.5 Somoni (539,900 USD).  Including carryover from 2012, on October 1, 2013, a total of 79,030 persons were registered with the Agency as looking for work, including 55,278 registered as unemployed.

Over the same nine-month period, 15,814 people have been sent to vocational trainings, 4,282 people have been provided with social-paid jobs and 2,615 people have been provided with soft loans to start business.

According to the State Agency for Social Protection, Employment and Migration, during the first nine months of 2013, 174,304 new jobs were created, which is 55.5% more than in the same period last year (112,070).

Meanwhile, Tajik migration service agency reports that a total of 814,985 people have migrated from Tajikistan in January-September this year, 15.1% more than in the same period last year, while 515,995 people returned.

Despite the fact that the overall labor migration tends is increasing, the monthly labor migration level is gradually decreasing since the peak in March and April.  In September, the number of labor migrants totaled 75,767 people, 9.7% lower when compare to August.