The number of persons registering for work in January stood at 2,889, a sharp decline compared to 4,710 in the corresponding month last year.

Data provided by Jobsplus for January indicate a decrease of 1,691 persons registering under the so-called Part I and a decrease of 130 among those registering under Part II of the unemployment register.

Those registering under Part I are either new job seekers who have left school, or re-entrants into the labour market, or individuals who have been made redundant by their former employers.

Those registering under Part II are either workers who have been dismissed from work due to disciplinary action, left work out of their own free will, refused work or training opportunities or were struck off the register.

Compared to January 2016, registrants for work decreased irrespective of how long they had been registering. The largest decrease was recorded among persons who had been registering for over one year. The number of persons with a disability who were registering for work also decreased by 22 to 319.

The largest share of males on the unemployment register sought occupations as craft and related trades workers (18.6 per cent) whereas the largest share of females on the unemployment register sought occupations as clerical support workers with 36.5 per cent.