Rise in jobless rate

The unemployment rate in August 2003 stood at 5.5 per cent, compared to 5.1 per cent in August 2002, the National Statistics Office said.

Employment and Training Corporation figures show there were 8,052 persons registering for work, an increase of 640 over August of last year.

There was an increase of 67 persons in the labour supply compared to the same month last year but a drop of 440 persons in comparison to July 2003. Accordingly, the labour supply reached 145,689 persons in August 2003.

The full-time gainfully occupied population decreased by 573 persons in relation to August last year and by 578 when compared to July 2003. As a result, the full-time gainfully occupied population was of 137,637 persons in August 2003.