Makhachkala, March 28, 2011. On March 25 the Board of the Public Chamber RD for social development issues hosted a round-table discussion on reducing poverty and unemployment in Dagestan. Apart from the permanent members of the Board, the meeting was attended by representatives of the ministries, agencies and public organizations of the republic.

In 2010, 211,800 individuals versus 145,000 in 2009 addressed the bodies of the State Employment Service of the Republic of Dagestan for assistance in provision of the public services. The average age of unemployed people in Dagestan is 29. In other words, much more active and able-bodied people have no permanent job.

The participants of the public discussion indicated that the distinguishing feature of the poverty in the region was its stagnant and chronic character. During the years of reforms in Russia there appeared a category of "new poor" – the able-bodied citizens who were willing to work but could not earn enough money to support families, as well as workers who received wages below the subsistence level. The prevailing severe economic and social situation strongly dictates the need of more comprehensive and systematic study of social problems in the country.