The Vice-President of the Government announced several measures to reinforce the Azorean Agenda for Employment Creation and Competitiveness, "taking into consideration the adherence rate registered and the need to cover more people."

Sergio Avila mentioned the PIIE, RECOVER and ABC programmes, which have significantly contributed to the re-qualification of the unemployed and promoted the access of youngsters to the labour market.

According to the Vice-President, the Regional Government's goal is to hire 500 youngsters by the end of this year under the Incentive Programme for the Professional Integration of Young Trainees (PIIE). So far, a total of 179 youngsters have been hired under this programme.

With regard to RECUPERAR programme, which has already integrated 300 unemployed, the Azorean Government estimates to promote the integration of 700 unemployed by the end of the year.

The Government also aims to triple the number of the beneficiaries of the programme for the Acquisition of Basic Skills (ABC), thus increasing the number of beneficiaries from 300 to 900.

This programme has been an investment in the provision of qualifications to low-skilled unemployed.

In addition to reinforcing these programmes, the Regional Government is preparing the entry into force of the traineeship programme AGIR AGRICULTURA, having already established several contacts with public and private entities in the sector, revealed Sérgio Ávila.

This programme, which will also cover the unemployed, includes a training component and a professional traineeship in agricultural companies.

Initially, the programme will cover cattle farming, but in the future it may also cover the areas of horticulture, floriculture and fruit growing.

"The Government of the Azores has been undertaking a huge effort in the Region to tackle the effects of the adverse context," Sérgio Ávila said, stressing that unemployment in the archipelago is "relatively lower compared to the national trend."

The Vice-President also said that with the measures implemented, which have been reinforced, the Regional Government expects to "revert this year the trend of rising unemployment that is still being felt in the Region."