The registered unemployed last month declined by 318, or 4.7 per cent, when compared to the corresponding month last year.

The number of people registering for employment amounted to 6,510, the National Statistics Office said.

It said that according to administrative records held at the Employment and Training Corporation, the number of people registering for work in July amounted to 6,510 - 5,809 in Malta and 701 in Gozo.

When compared to last year, registered unemployment decreased by 331 in Malta, and went up by 13 in Gozo.

The number of men on the unemployment register amounted to 5,094, while women numbered 1,416.

Over the corresponding month in 2010, the incidence of unemployment decreased for both men and women, by 282 and 36, respectively.

In comparison to the previous year, unemployment declined across all the age groups, with the largest absolute drop being recorded among persons aged 45 and over.

Those registering for work for less than 20 weeks remained practically unchanged while those who had been registering for work for more than one year dropped by 243, or 9.5 per cent.

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

In March 2011, the registered unemployment rate, excluding part-timers, was 4.3 per cent of the labour supply. This rate stood at 5.1 per cent for men and 2.7 per cent for women. The registered unemployment rate among workers aged 45 and over was 4.5 per cent, while that in respect of those aged less than 25 stood at 5.1 per cent.