Azerbaijan.US
Azerbaijan’s labor market is facing a growing skills mismatch: vacancies remain open, but employers struggle to find qualified specialists – especially outside the capital.
According to State Employment Agency, companies over the past year have reported the greatest hiring difficulties in technical professions, sales and marketing, accounting, and finance.
Speaking on the issue, agency representative Nijat Amidov said that while demand for workers is high, many applicants lack either practical experience or the digital skills required by today’s job market.
“Employers are looking not just for diplomas, but for hands-on skills and digital literacy,” he noted.
Where the shortage is most acute
Statistics show that over the past year, the highest number of job vacancies has been recorded in:
technical and engineering fields,
sales and marketing,
accounting and finance,
construction and manual labor,
agriculture and farming.
At the same time, employers say they face the most difficulty hiring staff in sales, marketing, technical specialties, and financial roles. Shortages are also reported in construction, trade, and physically demanding jobs.
In percentage terms, the staffing gap is estimated at:
8.6% in tourism and the service sector,
7.7% in agriculture and livestock farming.
Office and administrative support roles are also affected by a lack of suitable candidates.
Why vacancies remain unfilled
Employers cite several key reasons for the shortage:
lack of professional and practical skills,
insufficient work experience,
absence of qualified specialists in the regions,
weak general work habits,
salary expectations that exceed market realities,
poor digital competencies.
Experts stress that the era when a university degree alone guaranteed employment is over.
“Without practical skills and digital competence, thousands of vacancies remain out of reach for job seekers,” officials say.
The bigger picture
Analysts warn that unless the gap between education, skills training, and labor market needs is addressed, the situation will persist: jobs will remain available, while unemployment continues – side by side.
