According to Central Statistics Office (KSH) data, in May-July 2012 the unemployment rate has receded to 10.5% from 10.9%. Among the 15-74 age group, the number of people employed rose to over 3.908 million, the highest figure since the onset of the economic crisis in the autumn of 2008.

According to data not adjusted seasonally, in May–July 2012, the unemployment rate among the 15–74 year-old male population increased by 0.3% to 11.0%. During the same period, the number of unemployed women dropped by 0.9% to 9.9%. The unemployment rate for the 15–24 age group reached 28.1%, while the 25–54 age-group’s unemployment figures dropped by 0.4 percentage points to 9.6%. Finally, the unemployment rate of persons aged 55–64 decreased by 1.3 percentage points to 7.3%.

The recently announced Job Protection Action Plan aims to secure these positive trends that have been present since 2010 despite the negative effects of the foreign trade environment. The Action Plan’s ten-point agenda aims to support the most vulnerable groups, namely those under the age of 25 or over the age of 55, the long-term unemployed, unskilled workers and mothers returning from maternity leave.

(Ministry for National Economy)