The number of people registered as unemployed in May dropped by 686, or 9.7 per cent, when compared to the corresponding month last year to 6,366, the National Statistics Office said.

The NSO said 5,678 were registering in Malta and 688 in Gozo. Both Malta and Gozo registered decreases in the registered unemployed by 660 and 26, respectively, when compared to last year.

The number of men on the unemployment register amounted to 5,081, or 79.8 per cent, while women numbered 1,285, or 20.2 per cent.

Over the corresponding month in 2010, the incidence of unemployment decreased for both men and women, by 502 and 184 respectively.

In comparison to the previous year, unemployment declined across all the age groups.

A drop of 197 was registered among the unemployed aged 45 and over.

Those registering for work for less than 20 weeks decreased by 231, or 7.7 per cent, while those who had been registering for work for more than one year dropped by 335, or 12.9 per cent.

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

The NSO said that, in January this year, the registered unemployment rate (excluding part-timers) stood at 4.4 per cent of the labour supply.

This rate stood at 5.2 per cent for men and 2.8 per cent for women.

The registered unemployment 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 5.1 per cent.