Malta with sixth lowest unemployment rate in EU

6,966 persons were registering for work during March, an increase of 304, or 4.6 per cent, over the corresponding month last year.

Records provided by the Employment and Training Corporation show that during March the number of persons registering as unemployed in Malta and Gozo, stood at 6,236 and 730 persons respectively. Accordingly, in the twelve-month period to March, the number of registered unemployed increased on the mainland, while that for Gozo remained at par with the previous year.

The number of persons registering under Part 1 of the unemployment register increased by 297 (5.0 per cent), while those registering under Part 2 edged up by 7 persons (1.0 per cent). There were 5,433 men and 1,533 women registering for work during the month under review. Unemployment among men went up by 137, or 2.6 per cent, while female unemployment increased by 167, or 12.2 per cent. Unemployed persons aged 45 and over increased by 10.1 per cent between March 2011 and March 2012. Unemployment among young persons aged under 25 decreased slightly.

When compared to March 2011, the number of persons registering for work for more than one year remained unchanged, while persons who were registering for less than 21 weeks increased by 177, or 6.2 per cent. Persons with a disability registering under Part 1 of the unemployment register numbered 466.

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

In November 2011, the registered unemployment rate stood at 4.2 per cent of the labour supply (excluding part-timers): 5.0 per cent for men and 2.7 per cent for women. This rate stood at 4.5 per cent among persons aged 45 and over, and 5.1 per cent for persons aged less than 25.

The unemployment rate of persons who had been registering for work for at least one year under Part 1 of the unemployment register stood at 1.5 per cent: 1.9 per cent for men and 0.7 per cent for women

The euro area (EA17) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.9% in March 2012, compared with 10.8% in February. It was 9.9% in March 2011. The EU271 unemployment rate was 10.2% in March 2012, stable compared with February. It was 9.4% in March 2011.

Eurostat estimates that 24.7 million men and women in the EU27, of whom 17.3 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in March 2012. Compared with February 2012, the number of persons unemployed increased by 193,000 in the EU27 and by 169,000 in the euro area. Compared with March 2011, unemployment rose by 2.1 million in the EU27 and by 1.7 million in the euro area.

These figures were published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.0%), the Netherlands (5.0%), Luxembourg (5.2%) and Germany (5.6%), and the highest in Spain (24.1%) and Greece (21.7% in January 2012).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in eight Member States and increased in nineteen. The largest falls were observed in Lithuania (17.5% to 14.3% between the fourth quarters of 2010 and 2011), Latvia (17.1% to 14.6% between the fourth quarters of 2010 and 2011) and Estonia (13.9% to 11.7% between the fourth quarters of 2010 and 2011). The highest increases were registered in Greece (14.7% to 21.7% between January 2011 and January 2012), Spain (20.8% to 24.1%) and Cyprus (6.9% to 10.0%).

Between March 2011 and March 2012, the unemployment rate for males increased from 9.7% to 10.8% in the euro area and from 9.3% to 10.2% in the EU27. The female unemployment rate rose from 10.2% to 11.2% in the euro area and from 9.6% to 10.3% in the EU27.

In March 2012, 5.5 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU27, of whom 3.3 million were in the euro area. Compared with March 2011, youth unemployment increased by 303,000 in the EU27 and by 163,000 in the euro area. In March 2012, the youth unemployment rate was 22.6% in the EU27 and 22.1% in the euro area.

In March 2011 it was 21.0% and 20.6% respectively. The lowest rates were observed in Germany (7.9%), Austria (8.6%) and the Netherlands (9.3%), and the highest in Greece (51.2% in January 2012) and Spain (51.1%).

In March 2012, the unemployment rate was 8.2% in the USA. In February 2012 it was 4.5% in Japan.