Unemployment Rate Down to 8.64 percent in January

Bratislava, February 20 (TASR) – The unemployment rate in Slovakia stood at 8.64 percent in January, down by 0.12 percentage points month-on-month and by 1.75 percentage points year-on-year, Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Centre (UPSVaR) general director Marian Valentovic reported at a press conference on Monday.

The number of jobseekers immediately able to start work was 235,455 in January, a decrease of 2,522 individuals m-o-m and of 46,884 (16.61 percent) y-o-y, said Valentovic.

The unemployment rate calculated from the total number of jobseekers reached 10.05 percent in January, down by 0.11 p.p. m-o-m and by 2.13 p.p. y-o-y.

In addition, the total number of jobseekers stood at 273,894 in January, falling by 2,237 m-o-m and by 56,889 (17.20 percent) y-o-y. In terms of individual regions, the unemployment rate fell most significantly in Trencin region in January, apart from the other four regions also seeing reductions in their respective jobless rates.

Among Slovakia’s 79 districts, the unemployment rate was down in 51 districts in January, while increases were found in 28 districts.

Labour offices reported 38,363 job vacancies in late January, up by 3,079 m-o-m, added Valentovic.

Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Jan Richter (Smer-SD), who was also at the press conference, stated that the positive unemployment figures were due to encouraging developments in Slovakia’s economy in general.

“Companies are interested in expanding their staff. There’s a feasible assumption that this trend will continue throughout this year,” said Richter.

Meanwhile, the ministry now wants to focus especially on finding jobs for people signed on at labour offices. “Importing a cheap labour force will never be our priority,” stressed Richter.