Unemployment in Rural Uzbekistan: Evidence from a Case Study of a Regional Skills Training Intervention in Urgut

This study examines unemployment dynamics in a rural context, focusing on a 2024 youth skills training program in the village of Jartepa (mahalla located in Urgut District). We integrate international literature on rural unemployment with Uzbekistan’s socioeconomic context to frame the analysis. A human capital and labor market perspective guides our interpretation of outcomes. Using program data on unemployed youth (age 18–29) who received language and IT training in Jartepa, we analyze enrollment, completion, and employment results by age group and training type. The findings show high course completion rates and substantial post-training employment gains, culminating in a notable reduction in the local unemployment rate. Participants who undertook both language and IT courses achieved the strongest employment outcomes, underscoring the value of multi-faceted skill development. We discuss these results in light of global evidence on vocational training effectiveness and rural labor market theory. The paper concludes with targeted policy recommendations for regional skills development programs to combat rural unemployment, along with considerations of the program’s limitations.