05 January 2019 - Dynamic economic growth is Montenegrin reality in this and the forthcoming years as well. Opening new jobs remain the government’s first economic priority. The Government of Montenegro has been analyzing different scenarios for increasing minimum incomes, vice-president for the economic policy and agriculture minister, Milutin Simović stated.
“Our economy increased by 4.7% in 2017 and 4.8% in the first half of 2018. The growth rate in the 3rd quarter rose to 5% thus positioning Montenegro in the 3rd place compared to the region and the European Union (EU). These results confirmed assessments of the relevant international organizations, such as the IMF, World Bank and credit agencies, which claimed that Montenegro had achieved positive results thanks to the government’s efforts in the process of fiscal harmonization. Fiscal consolidation represented a huge challenge to us, as we did not want to give up on development. It was tough but, we did it,” said Simović.
Such results, he added, have been achieved thanks to a wise and responsible state and economic policy, which was led especially after Montenegro restored its independence, and also based on the achievements in the Euro Atlantic and European integrations.
As for maintaining the economic growth, Simović said there would be many challenges but nothing that Government of Montenegro cannot deal with.
According to him, opening new jobs represents the first priority of the government’s economic policy.
“We have been implementing numerous systematic actions to reach this goal. The number of recruited people in Montenegro has been continuously increasing. In 2018, there were over 25,000 employees more than in 2011, and around 11,000 more when compared to 2016. We expect this trend to continue in 2019. New job opportunities are expected in those sectors in which we invested the most – agriculture and construction, and in all those areas directly or indirectly connected with tourism (in hotels and restaurants, trade, transport and manufacturing output)," concluded Simović.
Recently, the Statistical Office of Montenegro published a report on the unemployment rate, which states that the number of unemployed people in Montenegro reduced by 9.901 persons in 2018.
According to the same data, the unemployment rate was reduced from 22,13% that existed earlier to 17,87%.
“At the same time, survey unemployment rate, according to the Statistical Office of Montenegro (MONSTAT), amounted 14,1 % in the III quarter of 2018, whereas in the III quarter of 2017, it amounted 14,8%. A very encouraging fact is that more than a third of newly employed persons are younger than 30,” said the representatives of the Government.
The lowest unemployment rate is in Kolašin (5,93%), and the highest one is in Plužine (61,28%).
Source: Cafe del Montenegro
