May unemployment down by 554 from April

Unemployment in May decreased by 214 persons when compared to the corresponding month last year, and by 554 compared to April.

The NSO said today that the number of registered unemployed stood at 7,052 in May.

In Malta alone, registered unemployment totalled 6,338, whereas in Gozo it stood at 714.

In the 12 months to May 2010, unemployment decreased by 163 and 51 in Malta and Gozo respectively.

In the 12 months to May 2010, unemployment decreased among all age groups with the exception of persons aged 45 and over. On the other hand, drops in all age groups were registered in comparison with April. Year-on-year, the number of persons who were registering for work for over one year increased by 284, or 12.2 per cent.

In contrast, those persons registering for employment for up to 20 weeks decreased by 341, or 10.3 per cent.