A large-scale Askia night took place in the 'Ijodkorlar bogʻi' park of Margilon city, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the memory of Muhammadsiddik Sheraev, a renowned representative of Uzbek national Askia art, an artist who served in Uzbekistan.
This event was organized with the initiative and cooperation of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Republican Center for Askia and Interests named after Yusufjon Qiziq Shakarjonov, as well as the Fergana Region and Margilon City Administrations.
Youth is viewed as the main driving force that ensures the intellectual potential, future development, and competitive economy of New Uzbekistan. Therefore, supporting youth, ensuring they receive modern education, master professions, secure decent jobs, and occupy a proper place in society is one of the key directions of state policy in the country.
Thanks to the President's initiative, broad opportunities are created for youth to learn, realize their potential, and find a worthy place in the labor market, and these opportunities are bearing fruit. It is important that the obligations established by the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan 'On State Policy Regarding Youth' are consistently implemented in this process.
The issue of finding suitable employment based on one's specialization remains one of the most pressing topics for university graduates. The real value of a diploma increases through its consolidation with practical experience and the demonstration of acquired knowledge during work. In this regard, initiatives to strengthen cooperation between educational institutions and employers are becoming an important factor determining the future of young people.
The 'Career Day' event, organized at the Syrdarya-Zarafshan Water Management System Directorate, aimed to achieve these noble goals. Special attention was paid to attracting qualified, proactive, and knowledgeable young specialists to the water resource management system, directing them to existing vacant positions, and strengthening the industry's human resource potential.
The event was attended by Muzaffar Turdiboyev, Head of the Syrdarya-Zarafshan Water Management System Directorate, central office staff, human resources development and management specialists, as well as university graduates and student interns. Director Muzaffar Turdiboyev emphasized that the water resource management system requires not only deep theoretical knowledge but also young personnel capable of thinking modernly, showing initiative, and demonstrating responsibility. He also noted that all necessary organizational and practical conditions are being created for the professional potential of young people entering this field and for the start of their working life.
During the event, information about available job openings in organizations of the water resource management system was presented. Graduates were thoroughly informed about the procedure for starting employment, working conditions, opportunities for professional growth, and promising directions in the industry. The meeting, held in an atmosphere of open dialogue, allowed young people to receive comprehensive answers to their questions and create an opportunity for direct communication between employers and graduates.
The most important thing is that the event concluded with practical results. A group of graduates who completed irrigation specialties was accepted into existing vacant positions within the system and gained the opportunity to begin their professional careers. This once again demonstrated that 'Career Day' is not just an official meeting, but an influential mechanism ensuring the transition of youth from a diploma to independent employment.
Young specialists starting to work in the field of water resource management today will make a worthy contribution to the effective use of the country's water resources tomorrow, the development of modern irrigation systems, and the stability of networks. Thus, practical initiatives like 'Career Day' not only guarantee employment for graduates but are also a vivid example of the state's high attention to youth and the strengthening of cooperation between education and production.
A fundamental shift is occurring in global demography. While concerns several decades ago were focused on excessive population growth, the primary threat today is the sharp decline in birth rates and population aging.
To maintain demographic stability and prevent natural population decline, an average rate of 2.1 children per woman is required. However, more than half of the world's population lives in countries where this safe rate is lower.
The most serious consequences of the crisis are visible in Asia and Europe. In South Korea, which was considered an absolute record holder for the process, the fertility rate hovers around 0.7. High real estate costs, intense competition in the labor market, and the expenses of raising children force young people to forgo starting a family and having children.
In Japan, which has become one of the oldest nations, this figure is approximately 1.2, and the country's population is shrinking by hundreds of thousands annually. China, which long pursued the 'One child, one family' policy, has also fallen into a severe demographic trap: the fertility rate reached 1, and the population began to decrease. As a result, India has taken the position of having the largest population.
The situation in Europe is also critical: the average birth rate across the continent is 1.46. For example, Italy (1.2) and Spain (1.16) are facing serious population aging. In the USA, the rate is 1.6, and the demographic balance is mainly maintained through external immigration.
The sharp drop in birth rates worldwide is linked to several interconnected factors. Firstly, urbanization and the high cost of living in cities place significant pressure on family budgets. Secondly, as women receive higher education and have more opportunities for career advancement, the age of marriage is noticeably postponed. Thirdly, family and personal values are changing: among the younger generation, the tradition of living without children or limiting themselves to one child is becoming popular.
The demographic crisis entails serious economic and social consequences. The reduction in the workforce and the increase in the number of pensioners create unprecedented strain on state budgets and pension systems. Economic growth and innovation rates are slowing down, and due to a lack of children, schools and kindergartens are closing, while the demand for nursing homes is increasing.
Despite developed countries (South Korea, Japan, and European countries) allocating huge financial resources and providing tax incentives to stimulate birth rates, these efforts have not yet yielded the expected results. In regions such as Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, and in Africa, high birth rates persist. Consequently, a sharp change in the balance of economic power in the world and the direction of global labor migration is possible in the near future.
