Young people in Armenia: Facts and Figures

According to the “Concept of the state youth policy” young people of 16-30 years of age are considered to be youth. Young people make up 27.9% of the population.

In accordance with the provisions of the Republic of Armenia State Youth Policy Strategy 2013-2017, young people are the potential of the society and they should be free, highly developed and provide an opportunity to become healthy and responsible citizens, and one of the priorities selected is “Youth Employment and socio-economic problems”. Despite its importance of such a strategic approach to youth employment still unemployment is high among the young. Report data “Youth employment” made within the framework of the UN Development Program in Armenia” in 2009-2013 showed that the level of youth unemployment in the range of 40,8-42,8 percent, while among women it is higher than among men. In fact, the report was developed within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals acceleration. According to the report prepared and published by the experts of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in January 2013, until the year of 2017 Youth highest unemployment rate in the CIS will be in Armenia – 39.1 percent.

Each year about 21 thousand people with higher education and 10 thousand young people with vocational education enter labor market. But “there is a very large discrepancy between our labor market and vocational education system according to the “Armenia National Youth Report”. Specifically, 42.7% of young people with higher education and 66.0% of young people with vocational education do not work in their specialty.

Full text in Armenian