The labour market in Lithuania has in the recent past been
characterised by positive changes influenced by the implementation of
the country’s investment and economic policies as well as the means
used to realize the Lithuanian Republic’s employment programme: the
number of employed is increasing, the number of people out of work is
decreasing along with unemployment rate.
The fundamental right to social security and work is provided for by
Article 48 of the1992 Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, which
states that every person is free to do the job or business of their
choice, and that they have the right to suitable, safe and healthy work
conditions, to receive fair payment for work, and social security if
they are unemployed. The work of foreign nationals in the Republic of
Lithuania is regulated by law.
Researches made by interviewing people out of work, give us the numbers
of 75 % of those, registered the jobless in Labour Exchange really
wanna find a job, and there is yearly a downward numbers interested
just in unemployment relief.
Labour market suppose that in year 2004 the number of the unemployed in
average can be around 145 000, this is 20 000 less than the year before.
Peak of Lithuanian unemployment rate was reached after financial crisis
in Russia. When the main Lithuanian export market was closed, tens
thousands of people lost their jobs. Almost 1/6 of able-bodied
population were left without their honest livelihood.
In 2004 the development forecast for labour market is optimistic. The
dominant trend of past 3 years, whereby more jobs were created than
lost, will continue through 2004. Lithuania’s employers predict they
will create almost 47 000 jobs and that there will be around 10 000 job
losses. The balance of 37 000 jobs created is the highest in recent
years.
Jobs in shortage and demand
Business in the services sector will be the main job creators (50,5 %).
Meanwhile 75 % of all new jobs will be in small and medium business.
Employers in industry, construction and the services sector predict
more jobs will created than lost. Thus there will be an increase in the
demand for skilled labour in the following sectors: construction,
transport, consulting, business services, information technology and
electronics.
The demand for labour will exceed supply as far as professionals, young
professionals, technicians and white-collar workers are concerned:
construction engineers and technicians, accountants, auditors, banking
professionals, programmers, information systems servicing engineers,
electric engineers, electro technicians, business management
professionals, electronic engineers, marketing managers and
professionals, timber processing engineers.
It is also expected that for the following categories of skilled
workers, the number of jobs available will exceed supply: builders of
various trades, timber processing machine adjusters and operators,
transport engine mechanics, motor vehicle repairment, long distance
goods drivers, cooks, sales assistants and bar staff, electronic
equipment fitters, mechanics and repairmen, dressmakers.
In the agricultural sector employers are cutting more jobs than they
are creating. Thus there will be no demand in the labour market for
workers in the following agricultural professions: farm economics,
agronomy, zoo technology, animal husbandry, farm machinery
mechanization, market gardening and orcharding.
There will also be a shortage of jobs for singers, musicians, primary
and nursery teachers, physical education teachers, weavers and
knitters, spinning and reeling machine operators and nursing staff.
Lithuania can be split into 3 territorial groups in terms of the
employment situation. The highest employment is found in Vilnius,
Kaunas and Klaipėda regions, which have well-developed industry and
service sectors. In Alytus, Plungė, Utena and other primarily
industrial areas there is average employment. The lowest employment is
found in predominantly agricultural regions. There are great regional
and especially local differences in the level of unemployment.
According to employment exchange data, in 2003 the average annual
registered level of unemployment ranged from 5,3 % in th Trakai Region
(Vilnius County) to 23 % in Druskininkai (Alytus county).
Need of high Qualification
One of the most important conditions for an increase in employment is
skilled work force, able to adapt to market changes. Current
information suggests that in Lithuania employees of both sexes have
quite a high level of education. However, of the unemployed registered
with state employment exchanges, around 40 % are not ready for the
labour market, have professions which are not in demand or no trade at
all. Another problem is that almost 2/3 of these people repeatedly seak
assistance from labour exchanges, i.e. they are unable to establish a
strong foothold in the labour market.
With the apperance of many employment opportunities created by new,
evolving sectors, there is a need for higher levels of qualification
and technical experience. One trend which has become apparent in recent
times is a decrease in the demand for poorly qualified labour and an
increase in highly qualified labour. Of the job vacancies registered
with Lithuiania’s employment exchanges during 2003, 74 % were for
workers with higher, further or professional qualifications. Only a
quarter of all job vacancies were for unqualified work. The greatest
demand for labour is in the services sector (50%) and industry (30%).
14% of all job vacancies are in construction, with 6% in agriculture.
Lithuanian employment exchange forecast to give 24 mln Lt for the
professional courses for unemployed and those who has been given a
warning; 22 mln Lt are going to sponsorised vacancies and integration
of the jobless to the labour market; also 2.5mln Lt are to be given for
the employment of the disabled.
