A drop of 12.4 per cent was recorded in the number of registered unemployed in January compared to the corresponding month last year.

In January, the number of persons registering for work in Malta stood at 6,070 whereas those in Gozo stood at 727. Both Malta and Gozo registered decreases in the registered unemployed by 902 and 59 persons respectively.

During the month under review, there were 5,366 men and 1,431 women registering for work. Unemployment among men dropped by 658 persons, or 10.9 per cent, while that for women dropped by 303 or 17.5 per cent.

The number of persons who had been registering for work for less than 20 weeks experienced a drop of 9.0 per cent, while those who had been registering for work for more than one year decreased by 263, or 10.1 per cent.

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

Registered unemployment rate: September 2010

In September 2010, the registered unemployment rate (excluding part-timers) stood at 4.3 per cent of the labour supply. The unemployment rate among men and women stood at 5.1 per cent and 2.8 per cent respectively.

The unemployment rate of persons who had been registering for work for at least one year (long-term unemployment rate) under Part 1 of the unemployment register stood at 1.6 per cent. The registered unemployment rate among workers aged 45 and over stood at 4.6 per cent. The rate in respect of younger people aged less than 25 stood at 5.0 per cent.

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