“This was not a permanent job; it was limited to a specific timeframe, and everyone knew that once this period ended, the job would no longer exist,” – said Deputy Minister of Finance Giorgi Kakauridze in a conversation with journalists, responding to a question regarding the suspension of the state employment program for socially vulnerable citizens starting from 2026.
According to Kakauridze, the situation at the time the program was launched and today is completely different — both in terms of labor market demand and general economic trends.
“The employment program for socially vulnerable citizens was a decision made in 2021 and launched in 2022. It was a 4-year cycle. If we look at the economic situation — what it was in 2021 and what it is today — both labor market demand and overall economic trends are entirely different. Back then, in the post-COVID period, unemployment rates were significantly higher. Today, however, we see labor shortages in multiple directions, which creates challenges for the private sector. Therefore, the decision was made to cancel the program, and for those who wish to work in the private sector, we will support their employment through retraining within various programs,” Kakauridze stated.
When asked what will happen to the individuals currently employed within the program, Kakauridze explained that those already employed will remain in their positions until the end of the designated term.
“This was not a permanent job; it was limited to a specific timeframe, and everyone knew that once this period expired, the job would no longer continue,” he reiterated.
In response to the question about the scale of the labor shortage in the country, Kakauridze said that when the economy grows, the demand for jobs increases, and the existing workforce cannot meet the number of available positions.
He also noted that emigration is a problem, as people who left the country are not present in Georgia’s labor market today.
“There is also a serious labor shortage in the tourism sector… When the economy grows, the demand for jobs increases, and the existing workforce cannot meet the number of available positions. Unfortunately, the shortage of qualified workers is a serious issue. Emigration is also a problem, as those who have emigrated are not part of Georgia’s labor market today,” Kakauridze said.
For reference, the state employment program was launched in March 2022. The government offered socially vulnerable citizens employment in public institutions while allowing them to retain their social assistance for a period of four years. The salary for any such position was 300 GEL
