7,894 registered unemployed in October

A total of 7,594 persons registered as unemployed during October 2013, data provided by the National Statistics Office shows. The figures marked an 8.3% increase over the corresponding month in 2012.

From a geographical point of view, registered unemployment in Malta rose by 8.6 per cent to 6,845, while that in Gozo went up by 5.3 per cent to 749. Registrants aged 45 and over went up by 9.9 per cent to 3,113 when compared to 2012 levels.An increase of 579 persons was recorded in registrants whose duration of unemployment exceeded one year.

On the other hand, persons who had been registering for less than 21 weeks decreased by 57.

There was a slight downward shift in registrants with a disability, totalling 505 during the month under review, of which 429 were males.

In line with past trends, the largest share of unemployed men were seeking occupations in services, and crafts and related jobs, whereas unlike past trends women mostly sought technical and associated professional occupations.

The registered unemployment rate in June 2013 stood at 4.5 per cent of the labour supply, and varied from 5.2 per cent among men to 3.0 per cent among women.

The registered unemployed rate among persons aged 45 and over stood at 5.2 per cent, while that for persons under 25 reached 5.0 per cent. The long-term unemployment rate stood at 1.8 per cent.