Poverty rate in Uzbekistan drops to 6.8 percent

As of July 1, 2019, the poverty rate in Uzbekistan has decreased to 6.8 percent. This figure was highlighted on July 25 during a presentation on new approaches to employment and vocational education, reviewed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

According to the presentation, new strategies based on international experience have been introduced this year. Banks are also playing a role in supporting employment by cooperating with local communities. In the first half of 2025 alone, more than 3 million people were involved in income-generating activities. The system established to reduce poverty and the resources allocated to it have yielded results, reducing the poverty rate to 6.8 percent as of July 1, 2019.

“The quality of vocational education is crucial in increasing employment. It is necessary to expand cooperation with employers, elevate professional development, and ensure active participation of the private sector. Currently, the gap between vocational education and labor market demands is hindering effective workforce training,” the President’s press service reported.

The presentation also pointed out that some existing labor regulations create obstacles for business entities, particularly small enterprises. Digital technologies are not being fully utilized in the recruitment process, and current rules do not encourage employers to openly advertise available positions. This results in hidden job information, making it difficult to analyze the labor market and determine vocational training priorities.

New initiatives were proposed to address these challenges. In particular, labor authorities are expected to shift from a punitive model to a partner-based approach that supports employers. It is suggested to eliminate fines for failing to report vacancies or hire referred candidates. This change aims to ensure that employment agencies receive accurate information and can match job seekers to appropriate opportunities, while leaving the final hiring decision to the employer.

To support this, a special electronic platform has been launched and will initially be tested in Tashkent before being expanded nationwide. Hard-to-fill vacancies will be identified and turned into targeted areas of vocational education to align training with actual labor market needs.

Further improvements in vocational education are also planned. These include involving private sector representatives in Vocational Skills Centers and transforming some centers into specialized institutions. Authorities have been instructed to develop a three-stage vocational education system. Free online video lessons will be introduced, and working individuals will be able to retrain or upskill through a newly introduced "vocational voucher" system.

President Mirziyoyev emphasized that training skilled personnel is one of the key factors in reducing unemployment and poverty in Uzbekistan.