Sharp drop in unemployment

Unemployment dropped by 563, or 8.3 per cent last month when compared to June last year, the NSO said today.

The number of persons registering for work amounted to 6,212. Of these, 5,525
were registering in Malta and 687 were registering in Gozo. When compared to last year, the registered unemployed decreased by 567 in Malta, and edged up by four persons in Gozo.

The number of men on the unemployment register amounted to 4,896, or 78.8 per cent, while women numbered 1,316. Registered unemployment decreased for both men and women, by 487 and 76 respectively.

Unemployment declined across all the age groups, including a drop of 198 among those unemployed aged 45 and over.

Those registering for work for less than 20 weeks went down by 120, or 4.4 per cent, while those who had been registering for work for more than one year dropped by 334, 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.