Cyprus unemployment rises year on year

The registered unemployment rate in Cyprus recorded 3.3% in September 2005, slightly higher than September 2004, when a rate of 3.1% was recorded. However, it was lower than the 3.6% recorded in August.

The total number of unemployed rose by 702 persons compared with September 2004 but fell by 1,073 compared with August 2005.

Registered unemployment in the broad public sector showed a sharp drop of 1,263 compared with August, thanks largely to a reduction in the number of unemployed teachers as the new school year began. Total unemployed among teachers was recorded at 581 in September, compared with 1,498 in August.

Encouragingly, there was also a small fall in unemployment among restaurant and hotel workers, despite the end of the high season for tourism. Unemployment in this sector was recorded at 1,034 in September, down from 1,084 in August.

However, unemployment among construction workers saw a rise from 1,026 in August to 1,110 in September, while unemployment among wholesale trade and retail workers rose from 2,292 in August to 2,336 in September.

Fiona Mullen