MINSK, 17 February (BelTA) – According to the operational data, as of 1 January 2014 the unemployment rate in the country stood at 0.5% of the workforce. The figure was at 0.6% a year ago, BelTA learned from the employment policy department of the Labor and Social Security Ministry.

In January 2014 the figure went up 0.1% in Grodno and Mogilev Oblasts (to 0.6%) and Minsk Oblast (to 0.5%). The unemployment rate in other regions remained the same. As of 1 February 2014 it made up 0.7% in Brest, Vitebsk and Gomel Oblasts and 0.2% in Minsk.

The situation on the labor market remains stable. Cardinal changes are not expected in the near future, the ministry said.

As of 1 February there were 22,700 unemployed registered with the country’s employment bodies, down 14.3% from 1 February 2013. The number of unemployed increased by almost 1,800 people in January. According to specialists, it is a usual thing for the first months of the year. After Christmas and New Year’s holidays unemployed people are eager to find jobs, including with the help of the state employment bodies.

As of 1 February 2014 there were 52,900 available jobs. The country’s labor market lacks blue-collar workers (73.8%). The highest demand for workforce was registered in the processing industry, construction, agriculture, transport and communications.

In January 2014 a total of 10,600 people (of them 8,400 unemployed) were placed to work. An estimated 3,400 people (2,300 unemployed) took part in paid social work. Some 675 people were placed to training courses by state employment bodies.

The Council of Ministers approved the state employment program of the Republic of Belarus for 2014 with the total financing of Br277.8 billion. The main feature of the program is its retarget to addressing unemployment issues and enhancing the competitive ability of the unemployed, assistance to placing the targeted groups of the population to jobs. A special focus will be on the employment of young people, people who are out of work for a long time, and deinstitutionalized persons.