Unemployment Rate Down to 6.7 percent in July 2017
Bratislava, August 18 (TASR) – The unemployment rate in Slovakia stood at 6.7 percent in July, down by 0.2 percentage points (p.p.) month-on-month and by 2.74 p.p. year-on-year, Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Centre (UPSVaR) general director Marian Valentovic announced at a press conference in Bratislava on Friday with Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Jan Richter (Smer-SD) in attendance.
The number of jobseekers immediately able to take up a job was 182,754 in July, a decrease of 5,243 individuals m-o-m and of 73,706 y-o-y, said Valentovic.
The unemployment rate calculated from the total number of jobseekers reached 7.91 percent in July, down by 0.23 p.p. m-o-m and by 3.05 p.p. y-o-y, he added.
Furthermore, the total number of jobseekers reached 215,495 in July, falling by 6,438 individuals m-o-m and by 82,154 y-o-y, stated the UPSVaR head.
As for the individual regions, six out of the eight regions in Slovakia recorded a decrease in the unemployment rate in July, with Presov region seeing the most significant drop.
On the district level, the unemployment rate was down in 60 districts in Slovakia in July, while an increase was recorded in 19 districts.
Meanwhile, Labour offices reported 61,057 job vacancies in July, down by 938 m-o-m, added Valentovic. The highest number of jobs was available in Bratislava region, while the lowest in Kosice region.
According to Richter, the positive developments in terms of unemployment have continued also during the holiday period. “In terms of historical development, I’m glad that we’ve reached the under 8-percent threshold for the first time. It’s pleasing that Eurostat has also noted with regards to the previous month that concerning the unemployment rate Slovakia was below the EU average in June,” said Richter, adding that unemployment among young people keeps falling as well.
