Ukraine aims to create 6 mln new jobs by 2020

Ukraine is expected to create some 6 million new jobs by 2020, government official said on Tuesday. "I believe that the creation and legalization of some 6 million jobs by 2020 is a prime target of the Ukrainian authorities and it is a realistic goal for us," Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Sergiy Tigipko told an international conference on employment. The Ukrainian government will improve the investment climate, support strategic areas of the economy and stimulate the labor market in order to further tap potential of private enterprises to create jobs, said Tigipko, who is also the minister for social policy. The jobless rate in Ukraine peaked at 9 percent at the end of 2009, he said, but stressing the government has brought unemployment down. Ukraine's unemployment rate dropped to 7.8 percent in 2011, and is expected to further decrease to 7 percent this year despite the weak international jobs market.