Unemployment rates in Kazan down to 0.85 percent, mayor claims

(Kazan, March 14, Tatar-inform, Alia Zamaleeva). Kazan has reached a historical minimum in unemployment rates since the Soviet era. In the crisis period, it was higher than 2.2 percent, while for the moment it was 0.85 percent. With this, three or four vacancies are found per one unemployed individual. Mayor of Kazan, Ilsur Metshin, said it while speaking of the 2012 results before the Kazan legislature, City Duma.

Many employers faced a personnel deficit, he said. It was true for the municipal economy, where a shortage of drivers, utilities service personnel and builders was seen.

Considering this, a new presidential initiative aimed to construct rental housing is expected to produce results, mayor said. I. Metshin said the city would in 2013 begin to construct six blocks of flats, flats in which would be provided for employees of deficit occupations the city needed most.

Competition between cities for qualified personnel had become tougher, I. Metshin went on to say. Tatarstan authorities made increasing human potential the priority, evidence to which was the ongoing school major repair, newly opened IT college and improved infrastructure of higher educational establishments.