Unemployment last month dropped by 13.4 per cent when compared to the corresponding month last year, the NSO said today, quoting ETC records.

It said the number of persons registering for work under Part 1 and Part 2 of the unemployment register last month amounted to 6,585; 5,885 in Malta and 700 in Gozo. In the 12 months to April, both Malta and Gozo registered decreases in the registered unemployed by 967 and 54 persons respectively.

The number of men registering as unemployed amounted to 5,262, while unemployed women numbered 1,323. Over the corresponding month in the preceding year, the incidence of unemployment decreased for both men and women by 697 and 324 respectively.

Declines in the number of unemployed were recorded across all age groups.

Those registering for work for less than 20 weeks decreased by 446, or 13.6 per
cent, while those who had been registering for work for more than one year dropped by 381, or 14.1 per cent.

During April, the number of persons with disability registering for work under Part 1 of the unemployment register amounted to 403. In comparison to a year
ago, this segment of unemployed dropped by 14.3 per cent.

Most unemployed men were seeking occupations related to services, sales and crafts, whereas women sought service-oriented and clerical occupations.

Registered unemployment rate: December 2010

In December 2010, the registered unemployment rate (excluding part-timers) stood at 4.3 per cent of the labour supply. This rate stood at 5.0 per cent for men and 2.8 per cent for women. The rate among workers aged 45 and over stood at 4.6 per cent, while that in respect of those aged less than 25 stood at 5.0 per cent.

The unemployment rate of persons who had been registering for work for at least one year under Part 1 of the unemployment register remained at par with that recorded in 2009 at 1.6 per cent. This rate stood at 1.9 and 0.8 per cent among men and women respectively