Page 18 - GEORptMay18

4.4 Labour and income
4.4.1 Unemployment, income dynamics
Unemployment at 11.5% in 2017
Over 40% of Georgian women are economically inactive UNDP study finds
Unemployment is an important challenge for Georgia, where 11.5% of the population was unemployed at the end of 2017. Of those who were employed, 57.5% were self-employed, many believed to be working in agriculture and to experience underemployment as a result.
Georgia’s monthly average gross salary stood at GEL1,069 in the third quarter of 2017, up 9% y/y.
More than 40% of Georgian women are economically inactive, a study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and women's rights NGO Union Sapari has found. Furthermore, the women that are employed earn 35% less compared to men, according to the study.
Culture is the main cause of women's poor participation in the job market in Georgia. However, a flurry of programmes launched by the government and private companies in recent years are working to promote women in the workplace and women-owned businesses.
According to Shombi Sharp, deputy representative of UNDP in Georgia, this state of affairs is a paradox because Georgian "women are often more qualified than men". Failing to incorporate women in the job market therefore affects the country's economy by up to 11% of GDP, he added. The UNDP recommends stronger cooperation between the government, non-governmental and business sectors to improve women's rights.
According to Baia Pataria, executive director of Union Sapari, women are also at a disadvantage in more traditional, agricultural roles because only 17% of them own land and their access to resources is limited.
18 GEORGIA Country Report May 2018 www.intellinews.com