The number of labour contracts signed in Azerbaijan’s non-oil and gas private sector has grown by 36,000 since the start of the year to reach 1,067,000, First Deputy Economy Minister Elnur Aliyev said. The figure accounts for 56.5% of all labour contracts in the country.
Speaking at the 3rd National Competitiveness Forum in Baku, First Deputy Economy Minister Elnur Aliyev said labour contracts in the non-oil sector have risen by 36,000 since the beginning of the year and now cover 1,067,000 people. This figure represents 56.5% of all labour contracts signed across the country.
According to the official, non-oil and gas sectors accounted for 70.3% of Azerbaijan’s gross domestic product in the first nine months of this year.
Aliyev said the sector recorded average annual real growth of around 6% between 2021 and 2025.
The deputy minister also pointed to investment figures, noting that of the 14.7 billion manats invested in fixed capital in January-September 2026, 9.8 billion manats went specifically to non-oil and gas industries.
Market access and financing hurdles
Elnur Aliyev stressed that obstacles entrepreneurs face in entering the market and accessing financial resources and infrastructure carry serious weight. He said any barrier in these areas directly affects both the volume of investment attracted and the number of jobs created.
The deputy minister added that the main goal of measures outlined in the National Action Plan for 2027-2029 is to ensure that improvements in the competitive environment are tangibly felt both in entrepreneurs’ operations and in consumers’ daily lives.
