Employment and unemployment in Lithuania in 1990-2000

After the restoration of independence Lithuanian economy faced serious problems. The production of the gross national product dropped, consequently the level of unemployment increased. In the years 1990— 2000, unemployment reached the level of 15% and is still increasing. Labor market predictions for the year 2000 are not comforting. Il is supposed that unemployment will increase, especially among unskilled workers and people whose occupations do not meet labour market requirements. More and more people will find it difficult to get full time jobs. Regional unemployment distribution will remain noticeable. The level of unemployment in some of the regions may reach a 20% level, while in others - that of 5%. The rise of unemployment brings about serious consequences, the main of which is the devaluation of labour force. Unemployed people lose their qualifications, professional skills, and the acquired knowledge. The efforts Io curb this process, proposed by Lithuanian labour exchange, have not yielded the tangible results yet