(Adds PN's reaction)

The number of unemployed persons in August was 7,425, up by 604, or 8.9 per cent, over the corresponding month in 2012.

The NSO said that there had been a year-on-year growth of 781 persons (12.6 per cent) registering under Part 1 of the unemployment register and a drop of 177 persons (27.8 per cent) registering under Part 2.

On a regional level, registered unemployment in Malta rose by 9.2 per cent to 6,701, while that in Gozo went up by 6.2 per cent to 724. The number of registrants aged 45 and over went up by 6.9 per cent, while those aged under 20 dropped by 7.6 per cent when compared to 2012 levels.

A year-on-year increase of 551 persons was recorded in registered unemployed for more thand one year. On the other hand, persons who had been registering
for less than 21 weeks decreased marginally. There was also a slight downward shift in the number of registrants with disability, who numbered 520 during the month under review.

In line with past trends, the largest share of unemployed men were seeking occupations in services, crafts and related jobs, whereas women mostly sought clerical jobs.

The Nationalist Party said in a statement that the result of the Labour Government’s first six months in administration was a substantial increase in unemployment.

In the past months, the Oppositions had warned the Government several times about the risk of not having a clear plan for job creation, it said.