Assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth employment (18-29 years) in Azerbaijan

In the post-oil era, the scarcity of funds has brought forward unpredictable income sources (such as lottery proceeds, fines, and penalties) rather than fixed income sources, to boost fiscal capacity. Accordingly, the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) has introduced amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses. For context, the last adjustment to fines took place in July 2023. This suggests an annual review of fines for potential increases.

Baku, located on the Absheron Peninsula, is rapidly expanding into a sprawling metropolis. In the city center, high-rise buildings often violate construction regulations and density requirements, while on the outskirts, new single-story and multi-story neighborhoods are emerging. Amidst this 20-year construction boom, the creation of new cemeteries, a crucial component of urban planning, has been largely neglected. As a result, the cemeteries are overcrowded. A critical situation has developed in the city center and the Khazar, Sabunchi, and Surakhani districts, with suburban areas facing similar issues.

Since 2020, the Azerbaijani government has unwaveringly declared the resettlement of the Karabakh territories, liberated from Armenian occupation, as one of its main priorities for the next 20 years. Several documents have been meticulously prepared in this direction, intended for public access and official use (programs, strategies, plans, etc.). The government's primary principle for the resettlement of Karabakh is that only the population registered in the districts located in the liberated areas will be resettled in Karabakh. For this reason, registration in these districts has been halted since November 2020.

The employment landscape in Azerbaijan reveals a complex and challenging scenario.