Jobless rate in EU in September

The unemployment rate in the 15 member states of the EU remained at 7.6 per cent in September, as in August, according to Eurostat.

The 7.6 per cent amounts to 13.4 million unemployed men and women. The unemployment rate in the EU during September 2001 was 7.3 per cent.

In Malta, the latest statistics available from the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC), show that in September 2002, the number of registered unemployed persons stood at 7,520.

In June 2002, the registered unemployed totalled 7,121 (4.9 per cent) as compared to 7,423 (5.1 per cent) a month earlier. In June 2001 there were 6,529 (4.5 per cent) unemployed persons.

However, the Labour Force Survey (LFS) carried out in June 2002 by the National Statistics Office shows that the number of unemployed during June 2002 was estimated at 11,049 or 6.9 per cent. The majority, or 5,523 of unemployed persons, were between 15 and 24 years old.

The definitions and criteria used in this LFS match international methodologies used by the ILO, which are also used in the Eurostat figures.

The methodology used in the LFS differs from that employed by the ETC.