Smart People Earn Very Little

Who do you think earns the least amount of money in Armenia? Street cleaners? Garbage collectors? You'd be surprised:

The lowest wage earners in Armenia are physicists, mathematicians, educators and critics.

...in recent years there has been an increase in jobs, but the role of employment agencies remains small. Jobs are still acquired mainly through friends and acquaintances.

On a personal note, I know quite a few people through people through people in Armenia who are sitting at home with college degrees unable to fill jobs, as there are none.

Source: Yerevan.ru (translated)

Labor Exploitation in Armenia

This is a very serious issue that you should know about.

Employees consent to illegal working conditions for fear of losing their jobs.

"I work from nine in the morning till nine in the evening,” said Zara (not her real name), a shop assistant. “We do not have an official lunch break or chance to relax. We eat in the small room where we change our clothes and we get ten minutes to do so. I get terribly tired - but it’s still better than sitting at home without money."

I encourage you to read the whole thing in the link below.

Source: A1+

Armenia to Integrate Disabled into Employment Market

We covered a story about the physically challenged in Armenia and the difficulties for them there, whether living, working, or otherwise. Now, the future looks brighter!

Employment rehabilitation center for disabled will be established in Armenia too, Sona Harutunyan, head of Employment State Service Agency...

The center will engage in monitoring and assessment of opportunities for employment of disabled. The results of the studies will be given to employers. Harutunyan is sure the center will promote integration of the disabled into the work market. Employment centers and employers also organize classes of sewing and computer for the disabled.

Armenia is slowly but surely turning into a country which values Western ideals.

Source: Panorama

Armenia's Unemployment Level Drops to 7.2%

Looks like Armenia's growing economy is leaving fewer people without a job:

By the end of 2006 December unemployment level in Armenia dropped to 7.2 percent from 7.7 percent 12 months before. However, it rose in some provinces, particularly in the southernmost Syunik and Lori in the northeast.

...last year employment centers across the country found jobs for 8,268 people and another 10,250 were offered temporary jobs. Almost half of people who found jobs last year were in the capital city Yerevan. Mrs. Harutunian said there were vacancies for workers in Yerevan remaining unfilled for months. In regions there is a demand for doctors and school teachers.

The unemployment allowance has risen from 3,900 drams [$10.60] in 2003 to 12,000 Drams. [$32.70]

It would be interesting to see just how much unemployment increased around Armenia. For your convenience, I've pulled unemployment numbers from some countries to compare with:

Turkey: 10.2% (source)
Germany: 9.6% (source)
United States: 4.5% (source)

Article Source: ArmenPress