Unemployment rate in the end of May, 2012 was 12.3% of the total number of economically active residents. Compared with April, unemployment rate decreased by 0.6%, as the data from the State Employment Agency (SEA) shows.

There were 121 994 unemployed people registered at SEA at the end of May, 2012. Their numbers decreased by 5 789 people over the last month.

13 503 people lost the status of unemployed in May. Almost half of them (48.4%) lost it because they found jobs. 43.9% lost their status because they did not fulfil their duties as unemployed people without valid reasons.

«The situation with unemployment will gradually improve. The most rapid decrease is expected in summer months, when seasonal jobs appear on the market. It is worth noting that every unemployed person can officially work for two months and keep the status of an unemployed person by reporting to their State Employment Agent,»- SEA Director Inese Kalvane said.

Compared with April, in May the unemployment rate declined in all regions of the country. The number of registered free vacancies at SEA increased by 20% – there were 4 364 vacancies in the agency’s database at the end of May.

The lowest unemployment rate was noted in Riga region – 8.5%. The highest unemployment rate was noted in Latgale – 23.3%. Unemployment rate in Kurzeme was 13.2%, in Zemgale – 13.6% and 14.4% in Vidzeme.

Unemployment rate in Riga was 8.1%, in Jelgava – 9.3%, in Ventspils – 10.0%, in Valmiera – 10.2%, in Daugavpils – 11.9%, in Jurmala – 13.2%; Liepaja – 12.1%, in Jekabpils – 17.0% in Rezekne – 22.6%.

Ref: 104.109.109.2114