Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has reviewed new approaches in employment and vocational education aimed at improving job placement and training of skilled professionals.

Since the beginning of the year, international best practices have been introduced in these areas. Special attention has been paid to strengthening cooperation between the banking system and local mahallas, enhancing support for citizens seeking employment. As a result, more than 3 million people have been engaged in income-generating work during the first half of 2025.

The government’s targeted poverty reduction strategy is already yielding tangible results. As of 1 July, the poverty rate has decreased to 6.8%. This success is attributed to deliberate state policies and efficient resource allocation.

One of the key drivers of higher employment remains the quality of vocational education. However, the current training system still faces challenges, notably the mismatch between educational programs and labor market demands. Addressing these issues will require greater employer involvement, improved quality of training, and more active participation of the private sector.

Additionally, labor regulations in some cases hinder entrepreneurial activity, particularly for small businesses.

Limited use of digital tools in recruitment and a lack of incentives for transparent job postings distort the actual labor market picture, complicating analysis and the design of effective vocational training strategies.

During the presentation, specific measures were proposed to address these problems. One major reform is transforming employment services from regulatory bodies into partners for employers. Under this model, penalties for failing to submit vacancy data or rejecting referred candidates will be abolished. This change will help build reliable labor statistics and improve job matching, while leaving hiring decisions fully in the hands of employers.

A dedicated digital platform will be developed to implement the new model. It will first be piloted in Tashkent, with plans for nationwide rollout. The platform will provide a convenient and transparent system for interaction among job seekers, employers, and employment services.

Occupations facing skills shortages will be prioritized in vocational training programs to ensure that graduates meet the real needs of the economy.

To improve the quality of training, private sector participation in the operations of Skills Development Centers will be expanded.

Some centers will be sector-specific, enabling deeper and more practical workforce training.

A three-tier vocational education system is also planned. It will include free online video courses and offer working citizens the chance to retrain or upskill using so-called “professional vouchers.”

President Mirziyoyev emphasized that training qualified personnel is vital for reducing unemployment and poverty and for ensuring the sustainable socio-economic development of the country.