Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan chaired a meeting on December 10 to discuss the draft Strategic Employment Program for 2025–2031, aimed at addressing the concentration of economic activity in Yerevan and increasing employment in regional cities.
The revised strategy, which has undergone multiple rounds of discussions in both the parliament and executive bodies, identifies key challenges, including a high dependency ratio and excessive economic centralization in the capital.
The core principles of the strategy include aligning labor market supply and demand, simultaneous growth in employment and productivity, export promotion, attracting foreign direct investment, and shifting societal attitudes toward work. "Our goal is to drive employment growth by fostering a competitive workforce and expanding high-productivity jobs," the document states.
The action plan outlines ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure the effectiveness of implemented measures. By 2031, the strategy envisions significant increases in the labor force, structural shifts in employment, and a substantial rise in job opportunities in regional urban areas.
Following the discussion, Prime Minister Pashinyan instructed relevant officials to refine the draft strategy, incorporating suggestions related to formal and informal employment, productivity and competitiveness, and aligning education with labor market needs. The finalized document will be submitted to the government for approval.
