The Vice-President of the Government stated that "leaving no one behind" is the Government's "point of honour," which is why it considered the fight against unemployment as the "top priority for this term."
 
Speaking at the Legislative Assembly during a questioning on occupational programmes, Sérgio Ávila pointed out that it was also for this reason that the Government of the Azores has created programmes to support "all Azoreans with no job, without livelihood or in difficulties."
 
"Throughout this term, we have always sought for, within the limits of our resources and our powers, the most effective responses to the problems that affect our economy, our companies and our families," the government official said, underlining the fact that there are now 6,128 more employed Azoreans than at the beginning of the legislative period.
 
Sérgio Ávila stressed that the result achieved "are not completely satisfying, because a jobless Azorean is always a cause for concern." The government official pointed out the series of programmes designed to stimulate economic activity and job creation as well as to combat long-term unemployment, promoting the improvement of qualifications and skills.
 
The Vice-President of the Government revealed that, just under three programs (Integra, PIIE and CPE Premium), the Government has helped Azorean companies to create 3,423 new jobs.
 
"However, the least qualified Azoreans have not been forgotten," said the government official. Through their referral to professional training programmes tailored to the market needs, many of them were able to complete, "with their legitimate ambition and work, the basic education (9th form) or secondary education (12th form) levels. They were able to improve their qualifications and opportunities in the labour market. "
 
In his speech, Sérgio Ávila also mentioned the measures to support the unemployed who do not receive unemployment benefits, pointing out, as example, the RECUPERAR programme. This initiative "has proved to be of great importance" to ensure their re-entry into the labour market, while allowing local authorities to implement "the most varied projects, whose implementation would be hardly possible without their participation."
 
"We have contributed to restore the hope, pride and self-esteem of many Azoreans so that they may become active and participate in the Region's development process," said Sérgio Ávila.
 
For the Vice-President of the Government, "the great effort to promote employability" has resulted in positive signs, noting that "companies are responding well, through the creation of new jobs at an encouraging pace."
 
Sérgio Ávila assured that investment in this area will continue, revealing that "we will invest this year about 62 million Euros in programmes to promote employment and support the unemployed in the varying degrees of lack of protection they could face without a decisive intervention of the Azorean Government.”
 
 "I said investing. And I said right, because we have always regarded every cent applied in these areas as an investment in our collective future," Sérgio Ávila stressed, ensuring that the Government of the Azores is "even more pleased with the positive signs about the fact that the regional economy is on the right track."