The unemployment rate in Ukraine among the able-bodied population rose to 9.9%, exceeding the indicators of the crisis in 2009 and 2014. The MP from the Opposition Bloc Serhiy Lovochkin demands the government to take urgent comprehensive measures aimed at reducing unemployment. He wrote about this in the deputy inquiry sent to Prime Minister Volodymyr Groisman.

“I demand to take urgent comprehensive measures aimed at reducing unemployment, in particular by encouraging the development of the industrial sector, the creation of new work places, the development of regions, increasing labor mobility and employment of young people. On the results of the measures taken please inform me in the statutory term,” the request says.

Serhiy Lovochkin reminded that according to the results of 2017, Ukraine had recorded the highest unemployment rate over the last 15 years. It’s level has increased to 9,5% among the population of 15-70 years, and among the working-age population – up to 9,9%. Even in the crisis of 2009 and 2014, the unemployment rate was lower.

“One of the main reasons for such a situation is the lack of a systematic approach of the authorities to the formation of state industrial policy, which led to a prolonged crisis in the industrial sector and a reduction of work places in this area of the economy due to closure or long downtime of a number of enterprises,” the MP said.

The politician added that another important factor in the growth of unemployment was the administrative increase of the government’s minimum wages, which had been made without thorough calculations and not supported by comparable economic growth and productivity growth.

“Contrary to expectations of the Cabinet of Ministers, this decision did not lead to an increase in the economically active population. On the contrary, unemployment continued to increase against the background of wage arrears and a decline in employment, a reduction of economically active population,” Serhiy Lovochkin said.

According to him, there is a lack of effective measures by the authorities that would facilitate the employment of young people who remain the least competitive group in the labor market. The unemployment rate among young people aged 15-24 is almost double the average in the economy.

“The scale of unemployment will increase without a radical revision of government policy in the areas of support for industrial development and employment stimulation,” the MP stressed.