Updated 6.45pm - adds government statement

The government this evening hailed data showing that the unemployed had declined to 3,360 in July, saying this was the lowest July unemployment figure since 1980.

In July last year the figure stood at 5,062, with decreases in registered unemployment recorded across all age groups.  

The NSO reported that the largest decrease was among people who had been registering for work for more than one year, though decreases were registered across the board, including among registrants with a disability. 

Clerical support work jobs were the most sought-after by both men and women looking for work. Almost 18 per cent of males on the unemployment register sought clerical support work jobs. That figure was 31.9 per cent among female registrants. 

In March, the registered unemployment rate stood at 2.2 per cent of the labour supply when excluding part-time employment, and varied from 2.6 per cent among men to 1.6 per cent among women, the National Statistics Office figures showed. 

UNEMPLOYMENT HALVED

In its statement, the government said unemployment was down by 3,990 from March 2013, meaning unemployment had been halved under the present government. 

This was the best evidence that Malta had a strong economy and that government policies were making a difference in people's lives.