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There were nearly 600 more people registering for work last month compared with the same period last year, figures released yesterday showed.

The National Statistics Office said there were 7,279 unemployed registering for work with the Employment and Training Corporation, up from 6,697 last year.

The situation improved marginally in June compared with May, with figures showing there were 13 fewer people registering.

On a regional level, registered unemployment in Malta rose by 502 (8.3 per cent) and 80 (11.9 per cent) in Gozo compared with last year.

Registered unemployed people aged 45 and over went up by 244, while a decline was registered in the under-20 category compared with 2012 levels.

A year-on-year increase of 578 people was recorded among those who had been out of work for more than a year.

During the same period there were 18 more disabled people on the register.

In line with past trends, the largest share of unemployed men sought occupations in services, sales and crafts, while women mostly wanted clerical jobs.

In February the registered unemployment rate stood at 4.5 per cent of the labour supply.