"Regarding this issue, there have been many speculations. Take, for example, the unemployment rate: comparing the first quarter of this year to the same period last year, unemployment in Georgia has decreased by 4 percentage points, now standing at 14% compared to the previous 18%. Moreover, 130 000 people have found employment, marking a record high in employment rates. Currently, 1.4 million people are employed in Georgia, a historical high since the 1990s," stated Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze during his annual address to Parliament.
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"As for poverty, I want to remind you that in 2012, the poverty rate was 30%, with over 1.1 million of our fellow citizens living below the poverty line. Based on data from 2023 published by Saxstat, poverty has decreased to 11.8%, meaning that currently, 435 000 people live below the poverty line in Georgia. This remains a deeply concerning indicator for us. As previously stated, one of our primary national goals is the complete eradication of poverty. It's worth noting again that under our government, the number of people living in poverty has decreased from 1.1 million to 435 000.
I recall an opposition member citing data from an international organization, which predicted an average annual reduction in poverty of 0.8 percentage points. Contrary to this forecast, Georgia saw a 3.8 percentage point reduction in poverty last year alone. With robust economic growth projected this year, we expect ten thousand more individuals to rise above the poverty line, and it is highly likely that by 2024, Georgia will achieve a single-digit poverty rate.
Since 2012, approximately 700 000 citizens have overcome poverty, marking a significant achievement. However, our ultimate national objective remains the complete eradication of poverty."
According to the Social Services Agency's data, in 2012, 501 445 people (163 183 families) received subsistence allowances intended for families below the poverty line in Georgia.
By 2021, this number had risen to 643 167 people (174 379 families). On December 17, 2022, the government approved the state employment promotion program and the public works employment promotion sub-program.
Following the program's approval, the Social Service Agency revised the statistical forms for families and individuals receiving subsistence allowances. As of December 2022, they no longer directly state the number of families below the poverty line. However, summary data from December 2022 indicates that 670 551 individuals (179 575 families) were receiving subsistence allowances.
As of May 2024, 667 528 people are receiving assistance, with 222 482 benefiting from a 4-year reserve under the state program for promoting public employment. This inclusion guarantees their status as socially vulnerable for the next four years.
According to information from the Ministry of Health as of December 12, 2023, a total of 32,923 socially vulnerable individuals were employed through this program, with 86% of them working in local municipalities and affiliated organizations.
Georgian News requested detailed public information about this program from the Ministry of Health in December of last year. The Ministry's reluctance to disclose public information led Georgian News to appeal to the court against the state agency.
