Pashinyan: Armenia has the highest number of officially registered workers
YEREVAN, February 3. /ARKA/. In December 2021, there were 650,471 officially registered jobs in Armenia, the highest number since Armenia’s independence from former Soviet Union in 1991, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told a government meeting on Thursday.
"There have never been as many registered jobs in the Republic of Armenia as in December 2021. Compared to December 2020, their number increased by 37,629, and compared to December 2019 the growth was 30,758, while compared to December 2018 the growth amounted to 70,978 jobs," Pashinyan said ruling out any manipulation with figures ‘as all these jobs are registered and all workers can be identified by their name.’
"I would also like to state an important fact - a significant increase in the average monthly salary. More precisely, in December 2021, the average monthly salary reached 277,661 drams. Compared to December 2020, it was higher by 30 thousand drams (or 12%), compared to December 2019 it was higher by 43 thousand drams (18%), and compared to December 2018 - by 54 thousand (24.6%)," Pashinyan noted.
According to him, the gross wage fund also increased. In 2021, working citizens of Armenia were paid a total of 139.6 billion drams as salaries, which is 15.7 billion drams (or 13%) more than in 2020 and 38.7 billion drams (38%) more than in 2019.
"And the share of low-wage workers who are paid up to 150,000 drams monthly has decreased by about 9%, from 60.4% to 51.45%," the prime minister informed.
He stressed that even with the coronavirus and post-war turmoil, the country has seen a consistent increase in average monthly wages of about 55,000 drams overall.
"But unfortunately, we cannot say that these numerical figures have improved the well-being of our citizens and one reason is the 7.7% inflation recorded in 2021," Pashinyan said.
According to official data, economic growth in Armenia in 2021 amounted to 5.8%, while inflation was 7.7%. Meanwhile, the original state budget for 2021 envisaged a GDP growth of 3.2% and 4% (±1.5%) inflation. ($1 - 482.52 drams). --0—
