Directorate of Labour News

The unemployment in January 2011 was 8,5% or in average 13.458 which is up from December 2010 with 8% unemployment.

Unemployment by gender
Unemployment by men was 9,1% or up from 8,5% in December 2010 but down from 9,9% in January 2010.  Unemployment by women was 7,7% or up from 7,3% in December 2010 but down from 7,9% in January 2010.

Unemployment by age
There were 2.670 young (16-24 years) unemployed in January 2011 or up from 2.377 in December 2010 but down from 3.080 in January 2010.

Unemployment by length
There were 7.205 long-term unemployed in January 2011 or down from 7.221 in December 2010.  Those unemployed over 1 year were 4.794 or up from 4.696 in December 2010. 

Open vacancies
There were 185 open vacancies in January 2011 or up from 147 in December 2010.

Granted work permits
There were 24 new work permits issued in January 2011 or up from 14 in December 2010.

The unemployment forecast for February 2011
It is expected that the unemployment will increase in February 2011 and be between 8,6%-8,9%.