Methodology

Sources we use

• Georgia: the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) — mainly the Labour Force Survey, earnings statistics and living-conditions data. Geostat's published tables are the primary source for every Georgian figure on this site.
• Regional and EU comparisons: the Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia (Armstat), the State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Eurostat for the European Union.
• Global comparisons: ILOSTAT, the International Labour Organization's statistics database, including its harmonised estimates.
• Law and international standards: the Legislative Herald of Georgia (matsne.gov.ge) for Georgian legislation and the ILO's NORMLEX database for conventions and ratifications.
• Secondary sources — research institutes, international organisations and news reports — are used for context and are always named. Where a secondary source and a primary source disagree, the primary source prevails.

Statistical standards

Since 2020 Geostat has applied the labour statistics standards of the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS), under which people who produce food mainly for their own consumption are no longer counted as employed. Geostat has recalculated its 2010–2019 data on the same basis, so GILS time series from 2010 onwards are consistent. Data before 2010 follow the older 13th ICLS standard and are not directly comparable.

The ILO's harmonised estimates for Georgia (ILOSTAT) are produced on a different basis and can differ substantially from Geostat's national figures. GILS uses them only when comparing Georgia with world or regional ILO figures, and labels them as ILO-harmonised.

How GILS calculates figures

• Derived rates — for example, youth unemployment for ages 15–24, which Geostat publishes for the age groups 15–19 and 20–24 — are calculated from Geostat's unrounded figures and labelled "GILS calculation from Geostat".
• Currency conversions use market exchange rates on a stated date; converted figures are approximate and are shown with the original amount in national currency.
• Rounding: percentages are shown to one decimal place; ratios such as "twice" or "more than double" are calculated from the published figures.
• Periods: each figure is shown with its reference year or quarter. Annual figures are not mixed with quarterly figures in the same comparison.

Comparing countries

GILS compares countries only where the indicator is defined in the same way and comes from an official source. Where a country's methodology may differ, the figure is footnoted; where no comparable figure is published, it is shown as "n/a" rather than estimated. See Georgia in the Region.

Updates

Geostat publishes quarterly labour force results about 50 days after the end of each quarter and annual results each May. GILS updates the figures on its homepage, the Labour Market Observatory and the regional comparisons after each release. Articles keep the figures that were current when they were published, with their reference period stated.

Independence and neutrality

GILS is independent of government, trade unions, employers' organisations, political parties and the International Labour Organization. It reports the positions of social partners and public bodies as set out in their own statements or in published sources, includes counter-arguments in its analyses, and distinguishes clearly between reported facts and GILS assessments. References to ILO conventions, data and reports do not imply any ILO involvement in, or endorsement of, GILS work. Organisations discussed in GILS publications have a right of reply.

Editorial process and corrections

GILS analyses are prepared with AI-assisted drafting; all figures and claims are checked against the cited primary sources and reviewed under the responsibility of the Editor (see Governance). Errors are corrected openly: the article carries a dated correction note and the correction is listed in the Corrections log. To report an error, use the contact page.

Cover image — Photo: Tbilisi Old Town (GILS homepage banner)