How to find a job in Georgia in 2021: vacancies and paperwork

Georgia, like Greece, can well be called the cradle of history and culture. If you believe the researchers of ancient myths and legends, many of them took place in the mountains of the hospitable Caucasus. Mysterious and sunny, Georgia is experiencing many problems today. One of the pressing problems was work in Georgia, or rather, its almost universal absence.

But not everything is as sad as it seems at first glance. Today the number of potential investors has increased. In addition, many Russians and Europeans have a desire to open their own business in Georgia.

In-demand vacancies

Despite the high level of unemployment, the chances of finding a place in Georgia are quite high, since the country needs qualified specialists. Physical labor is also necessary, especially during the harvest season.

Administration:

middle and senior managers;
office managers;
secretaries.

These positions require knowledge of Russian, Georgian and English languages, as well as all types of office work - domestic and international.

Trade:

sales consultants;
merchandisers (specialists in arranging goods);
managers;
cashiers.

Finance:

accountants and their assistants;
auditors.

Construction:

engineers;
foremen;
masons;
tilers;
façade workers;
asphalt pavers;
parquet floor workers;
plumbers;
locksmiths;
installers;
electricians;
joiners/carpenters;
excavator operators;
crane operators;
movers.

Medicine:

doctors of various specialties;
dentists;
qualified nurses.

Education:

university teachers;
teachers.

Real estate agents.

Unskilled labor:

housekeepers;
nurses;
nannies;
auxiliary workers;
seasonal harvest (vineyards);
security guards;
cleaners.

Work visa to Georgia

Citizens of the Russian Federation are allowed to stay on Georgian territory without a visa for one year. After which it will be necessary to obtain a work visa. In order to receive it, you need to contact the country's embassy and submit the following package of documents:

statement;
passports;
job invitation;
an employment agreement signed by both parties with the employer (if any);
health insurance;
a rental agreement or other document confirming the availability of housing or guaranteeing its provision by the employer; receipt of payment of the consular fee.

Depending on various circumstances, additional paperwork may be required.

You can also clarify this point at the embassy. It will take a Russian citizen no more than one month to open a work visa from the date of submitting the appropriate application. And if he has official employment and a residence permit, then five years after immigration he can apply for citizenship.

Income by area of activity

Are all foreigners who want to get a job in Georgia interested in the question of salary levels in various fields of work? If we are talking about the oil refining industry, then the income can be 3 thousand lari. At the moment, the Georgian state is completely dependent on the import of petroleum products. It is planned to launch an oil refinery in Poti with a capacity of up to 2 million tons per year.

The construction segment is also promising in terms of salary levels. Here you can receive 2-3 thousand lari monthly. They earn the same in the real estate trade. Considering the tourist orientation of many cities, especially those facing the sea, the work of transporting passengers is tempting. We are talking about taxi drivers who can earn up to 1.3 thousand lari per month during the season.

Agriculture offers lower salaries - about 400 GEL, in the food sector - 300 GEL. High-income jobs are found in major cities of Georgia:

Tbilisi;
Batumi;
Kutaisi;
Poti;
Rustavi.

The last of these cities is known for the Carriage Building Holding and the largest automobile market in the Caucasus.

It is easier to find a job in Tbilisi than in other cities - there are vacancies for both experienced workers and university graduates. The option of studying in the country with subsequent employment is possible. If you choose the capital of Georgia, then you should enroll in Tbilisi State University.

Pros and cons of Georgia as a place of employment

pros

The Russian-speaking contingent of foreign workers in Georgia is no longer uncommon. And these are not only migrant workers who are ready to take seasonal or low-paid jobs. The country is also interested in qualified specialists and those wishing to open their own business and provide new jobs to the Caucasus . Georgia also attracts investors who are ready to invest in an existing business.

One of the advantages of the Caucasian state as a place for employment of foreigners is salaries. In a number of sectors they are higher than in Ukraine and even Russia. This cannot but become an incentive to look for a well-paid job. However, increased salary levels are observed only in some industries. The work of representatives of many professions is paid lower than in the Russian Federation.

Minuses

When planning to go to Georgia to earn money, it is important to take into account the following problematic point. The situation on the labor market there is very unstable. Many able-bodied citizens, including young people, cannot find work.

New vacancies are opened extremely rarely. In addition, work in a number of specialties can only be obtained through connections.

Georgia as a place to do business

Working in Georgia as an individual entrepreneur has great prospects. Here you can meet not only immigrants from Russia, but also European businessmen. Opening your own business abroad requires going through a special registration procedure. The applicant will be required to submit a well-written application, which will include:

personal data;
name and legal address of the company (enterprise) being created;
the size of the authorized capital.

Also, along with the application, there is an appendix in which the company’s charter is indicated and a resolution on the appointment of a director is posted. A receipt for payment of the registration fee and other necessary documents are attached.

After the application is approved, the entrepreneur is issued a document indicating both tax and state registration as an individual entrepreneur. Since the newly opened company promises new jobs for Georgia, the percentage of applications rejected is not so high.

Working in Tbilisi, Batumi or other cities of Georgia for Russian-speaking foreigners from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus is a difficult task, but feasible, especially if we are talking about qualified specialists. With desire and some effort, finding a job in this country is quite possible.

Business in Georgia for Russians

The atmosphere in Georgia is quite favorable for developing your business. This country provides various benefits to entrepreneurs, since it is interested in attracting foreign investment into its economy. The tax policy here is quite loyal.

In order for a Russian to open his own business in Georgia, he must have a registration document in the country or a lease agreement for an office (enterprise). The application itself must be completed in Georgian. If all documents are in order, the registration process itself will take no more than two days.

Taxes in Georgia in 2019

Georgian jurisdiction cannot be called tax-free, but their level is quite low, and the tax regime itself is one of the most transparent, liberal, reliable and simple among other countries in the world. This can be reinforced by the fact that Georgia was ranked 9th in the list of low tax countries according to the Global Competitiveness Report.

Taxes in Georgia are levied at the local and state (national) level. There are 6 main taxes in total:

Income tax (on dividends) – 15%.
Personal income tax – 20%.
Value added tax (except for medical care, education and exports) – 18%.
Import tax (customs duties) – 0%, 5% or 12%.
Excise tax.
Property tax – up to 1%.

All taxes in Georgia, except property tax, are national. According to the Economic Freedom Act, the country's government does not have the right to increase national tax rates (with the exception of excise taxes) or even introduce new ones without the approval of the population through a referendum.

Taxes in Georgia in 2021

Taxes in Georgia are levied at the local and state (national) level. There are 6 main taxes in total:

Income tax (on dividends) – 15%.
Personal income tax – 20%.
Value added tax (except for medical care, education and exports) – 18%.
Import tax (customs duties) – 0%, 5% or 12%.
Excise tax.
Property tax – up to 1%.

All taxes in Georgia, except property tax, are national. According to the Economic Freedom Act, the country's government does not have the right to increase national tax rates (with the exception of excise taxes) or even introduce new ones without the approval of the population through a referendum.

Specifics of labor migration to Georgia

The economic component of the well-being of the country's citizens is significantly lower than in Russia. However, highly qualified specialists in certain fields will be able to receive fairly high wages. But before you can take a good position, you will have to beat your indigenous rivals. The low standard of living in Georgia, the high percentage of unemployment and the rare emergence of new jobs with decent wages create many difficulties for foreign workers. Applicants should pay attention to vacancies in the following areas:

IT technologies;
construction;
medicine;
education.

The salary level depends on the qualifications of the employee and the position he occupies. In most sectors, wages are significantly lower than in the Russian Federation. Foreigners opening their own business and investing in existing enterprises are encouraged by the authorities. The influx of funds and the registration of new companies allows the creation of new jobs, which is extremely necessary in conditions of high unemployment.

Finding a job in Georgia

Through websites

There are special websites that publish vacancies currently available in Georgia. They can be divided into several categories. Firstly, this is work for the state and ministries:

in the field of labor, social protection and healthcare;
vacancies in the public sector.

Through the press

Most international companies offering work to applicants from abroad are located in the capital of Georgia. Working in Tbilisi for Russians is a chance to occupy a high position and receive a large salary. Advertisements are published in major print publications in the capital and in specialized newspapers dedicated to job searches.

To purchase them, you need to come directly to Georgia, however, for Russians, traveling is not associated with difficulties: you can stay in the country without a visa, with only a valid passport, for a whole year. To search, you can also use the Internet portals of various newspapers.

Georgian Labor Exchange

For foreigners who want to find work within the country, the employment exchange will also come to the rescue. Many jobs that Russians can fill are in the service and entertainment sectors. Applicants from abroad are especially in demand in resort towns and largest centers of the country. Finding a job in Batumi, Tbilisi or Kutaisi using local labor exchanges is quite simple. However, before finding a job, a foreigner must obtain a work visa or residence permit.

How to find work in Georgia

The population of Georgia in all opinion polls names unemployment as one of the main problems in Georgia, and experts advise keeping up with the times and retraining according to the requirements of the labor market.

By studying vacancies on various employment sites in Georgia, you can easily determine which specialists are most needed by employers today. There are many vacancies, and for every taste and color.

You can look for a job, for example, on jobs.ge. The creators of the site claim that it has the largest database of vacancies in Georgia.

You can register as a job seeker, find the desired vacancy or advanced training courses on the portal of the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia - worknet.gov.ge.

Those applying for a job in government agencies should contact the website of the Public Service Bureau hr.gov.ge.

In addition, two years ago HeadHunter, the leader in online recruitment in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Azerbaijan, entered the Georgian market.

Unemployment

The number of unemployed in Georgia is decreasing

The unemployment rate in Georgia, as of 2021, was 11.8%. Of the more than 1 million 998 thousand able-bodied residents of Georgia, 745 thousand people were employed, and 1 million 10 thousand people were self-employed, according to data on the website of the National Statistics Service “Sakstat” (Gruzstat)

According to official statistics, the unemployment rate is highest (30%) among young people aged 20 to 24, and lowest among those aged 55 to 59 (6%). Moreover, it is in the second group that there are the most self-employed people - 121 thousand out of 195 thousand able-bodied residents aged 55 to 59 years.

As for hired workers, most of them are in the age category from 40 to 44 years old - 95 thousand out of 185 thousand able-bodied citizens.

Labor market

The average salary in Georgia, according to official data, is 960 lari (about $381). At the same time, the highest salary is in the financial sector - more than 2 thousand lari (more than 793 dollars), and the lowest in the education sector - 537 lari (more than 213 dollars).

At the same time, men in Georgia earn more than women in all areas.

The picture looks somewhat different, according to offers on job sites. The minimum wage offered by private companies is 150-300 lari ($59-119), and the maximum is 1-1.5 thousand lari ($397-595).

Wages in the public sector are much higher, from 400-450 lari (158-178 dollars) to 4 thousand (about 1.6 thousand dollars).

"Fashion" as a driver of regression

Experts believe that the most important reason for unemployment in Georgia is the lack of qualified personnel, especially with technical education, noting that the majority of the population has a humanitarian education.

The fashion for education in Georgia is a rather old trend. In the early 2000s, everyone was trying to get a law degree or a doctor degree. Later, with the development of the country, business and economics became in demand, and then tourism and foreign languages.

In 2021, when choosing specialties, applicants again gave preference to law, economics, business, tourism and medicine. True, this time construction and computer science were added to them.

Meanwhile, as a labor market study conducted by the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Protection of Georgia showed, the most in demand in Georgia are car repair specialists, electricians, mechanics, production technologists, builders and IT specialists.

Solution

In order to somehow reconnect supply and demand in the labor market and reduce the unemployment rate, the Georgian government is implementing many programs.

Among others is the “Make in Georgia” program, which has created many jobs with the opening of new businesses. However, many businessmen complain about the lack of specialists with the qualifications they need.

Women in Georgia are paid less than men

The Georgian authorities have found another way to provide the labor market with additional jobs. One of the main conditions when announcing a tender for the construction of a particular tourist facility is the mandatory employment of the local population. Taking into account the development of tourism in the country and the creation of ever new tourism infrastructure, this is a very effective way of employing the population in the regions.

At the same time, the authorities are taking care of the education sector. Anyone can take a training course at a vocational school completely free of charge. More than 40 such educational institutions accept those wishing to obtain a sought-after profession in Georgia.

According to the project of the Ministry of Education, students of these vocational schools will be able to fill the shortage of specialists in the near future, since they will be able to work while still studying, receiving wages for it.

Advice from experts

The vice-president of the Georgian Employers' Association believes that those who complain about lack of work should be ready to learn and change.

“A person must take care of himself first of all. We have capitalism, not socialism, and the times when it was: open your mouth and I will feed you are over. The problem is that many do not understand this,” said Zurab Agladze, vice-president of the Georgian Employers Association business association.

The working population is leaving Georgia

According to him, it is possible to improve or change your qualifications to those that correspond to the labor market not only with the help of government programs. Employers themselves offer this to employees, but it is up to the employee to find such a program.

“Both we, the government, and many organizations need to work hard on the qualifications and retraining of specialists. There are, of course, people with higher education, but this education does not meet the requirements of modern realities, which are IT technologies, computer graphics, engineering, and knowledge of languages. Therefore, it seems to me that requalification is necessary in this case,” Agladze noted.

Work in Georgia for Ukrainians

In-demand vacancies

Work visa to Georgia

Income by area of activity

Pros and cons of Georgia as a place of employment