The Regional Employment Plan for 2010-2015 at a preparation stage, taking into account the external assessment that is being carried out on the PRO-EMPREGO programme in order to make it fully compatible with the Operational Programme of the Social Fund for the Region.

Regarding the Regional Plan for Employment for 2010-2015, the Regional Government has promoted the assessment of the effectiveness of the implementation of this plan since 1998, particularly on the results of the indicators related to the impact on global employment and unemployment, on youth employment and on quality employment. All these indicators have been assessed also in the context of the evolution of female employment without forgetting the importance of the evolution of employment private companies, through the observation of their staff.

The analysis of the aforementioned plan demonstrated that with regard to the number of workers in the Azores since 1998 there has been an increase of 24%, which corresponds to a positive growth of 91,163 workers in 1997 to 112,596 in 2009.This indicator also registers that the number working in the Azores grew from 32,359 to 45,087 in the same period of time, corresponding to an increase of 39%.

Concerning the impact of global employment in the previous decade, the number of workers in the Azores increased 0.03%, rising from 88,500 workers to 88,536 according to data from the INE (National Statistics Institute).

The impact on unemployment, another assessed indicator, has registered a decrease of 44% since 1997. The absolute figures indicate that the number of registered unemployed decreased from9700 to 5400. This reduction has a considerable impact if one takes into account the current economic difficulties. If we compare the reality of the Azores with the national context, the difference between the national and regional employment plans is significant: while the number of unemployed in the Azores decreased 44%, the number of unemployed citizens at a national level increased from 429,000 to 510,000, corresponding to a growth of 19%.

Furthermore, the indicator of youth employment registers positive values with an increase of 55% in the total number of youngsters working in the age group between 25-34 years, rising from 21,558 to 33,343. The number of young women working in the Azores increased from 8,558 to 13,774, which represents a growth of 73%.
 
With regard to quality employment in the staff of private companies, the comparative analysis focused on the statistical data calculated between the year 2000, the first year this statistical indicator was included, and 2008, the estimated years to measure the impact on the staff. This analysis demonstrates that the total number of workers in the companies’ staff increased 33% and 52% in the female sector.  

The number of high level positions in companies registered a significant increase: 53% at a global level and 121% amongst women. 

In turn, the Azorean private companies have promoted the integration of an increasingly number of highly qualified workers, registering a total increase of 67% and of increase of 299% amongst women with high levels of qualification.  

 The analysis of long-term employment statistical data, carried out by the Azorean Government, enables the elimination of transitory fluctuations, thereby providing an accurate analysis of the indicators whose results have  clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of policies, plans, devices and measures for the promotion of employment in the Azores since 1998.

The positive impact of the employment policy implemented by the Government of the Azores through the analysis of the aforementioned statistical data has no counterpart in any other Portuguese region.