Analysis of Employment Changes and Their Role in the Urban Development Process of West Azerbaijan Province (With Emphasis on the Share and Location Change Approach)

Document Type : Origional Article

Authors

Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture, Urban Planning, and Arts, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.

Abstract
Introduction and Objectives: West Azerbaijan Province, due to its geographical and economic characteristics, has undergone significant changes in the labor market and employment. This study aims to investigate the trends in employment changes across three sectors: agriculture, industry, and services during the years 2011, 2016, and 2021. The primary objective of this research is to identify the pattern of employment changes and its impact on the urban development of West Azerbaijan Province.
Research Methodology: This is a descriptive-analytical study, and the data were collected from library resources and the statistical yearbooks of the country and province. For data analysis, the Shift-Share model was utilized to assess the impact of national and structural factors on employment, and the Location Quotient model was used to differentiate between primary and non-primary jobs.
Findings and Conclusions: The findings of this study reveal that between 2011 and 2021, employment in the agricultural and industrial sectors decreased, with the share of employment in agriculture falling from 37.2% to 30.4%, and in industry from 24.8% to 22.3%. In contrast, the public services sector experienced significant growth, with the share of employment in this sector increasing from 23.1% to 30.1%. These changes indicate a shift in labor from the agricultural and industrial sectors to the services sector. The main conclusion of the research shows that employment in agriculture and industry has declined and shifted towards services, highlighting the need for a balanced strengthening of these sectors for sustainable urban development.

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Volume 6, Issue 2 - Serial Number 20
Winter 2025
Pages 184-197

  • Receive Date 11 October 2024
  • Revise Date 10 November 2024
  • Accept Date 12 February 2025
  • First Publish Date 14 February 2025
  • Publish Date 23 August 2025