Unemployment Rate Down to 5.23 percent in October

Unemployment Rate Down to 5.23 percent in October

Bratislava, November 19 (TASR) – The unemployment rate in Slovakia stood at 5.23 percent in October, down by 0.15 percentage points (p.p.) from September and by 0.91 p.p. year-on-year, according to data released by the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Centre (UPSVR) on Monday.

Meanwhile, the number of jobseekers immediately able to start work was 143,339 in October, a decrease of 4,464 individuals m-o-m and 23,939 persons y-o-y, said UPSVR general director Marian Valentovic.
The unemployment rate calculated from the total number of jobseekers stood at 6.35 percent in October. “We thus posted a drop of 0.17 p.p. m-o-m, while the y-o-y decrease achieved 1 p.p.,” stated Valentovic.
The total number of jobseekers was 174,171 in October. “We thus posted a drop of 4,952 individuals m-o-m, while their number went down by 26,101 individuals y-o-y,” stated Valentovic.
All regions reported a monthly drop in the unemployment rate with Kosice region showing the most significant fall.
Labour offices reported 82,767 job vacancies in late October, down by 1,625 m-o-m. The highest number of available jobs was posted in Bratislava region and the lowest in Banska Bystrica region.
Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Jan Richter (Smer-SD) stated that the unemployment keeps developing positively in Slovakia. The number of job applicants registered with labour offices went down with Roma citizens being erased from their registers as well. “Efforts aimed at long-term unemployed continue to bring very particular effects. Several measures that have been taken in connection with the minimum wage are bringing fruits as well,” stated Richter. He said that the Government will deal with changes in receiving benefits in material need at its session due to take place on Tuesday (November 20).
The number of long-term unemployed registered with labour offices decreased by 55 percent in three years. “As of November 1, we registered 105,500 persons unemployed up to one year. We are able to work with these people in a very operative manner,” stated Richter. However, there are still 68,700 long-term unemployed registered with labour offices.