Cyprus unemployment falls in September

The number of unemployed persons registered at the District Labour Offices on the last day of September 2006 reached 11,092, a decrease of 457 compared with September 2005.

The Statistical Service reported that the decrease was mainly observed in the sector of wholesale and retail trade and in the sector of public administration.

Unemployment among wholesale and retail trade fell by 176 persons year on year in September, while there was also a big drop for public administration and defence, down 154.

The largest increase was in the sector of transport, storage and communication.

There was also a big fall in unemployment compared with the previous month. The 11,092 unemployed was 1,760 lower than in August 2006, when it was 12,852.

The Statistical Service reported that the month-on-month decrease was mainly recorded in the sector of education and it is attributed to the recruitment of teaching and auxiliary staff in educational institutions.

The Statistical Service now only reports the unemployment rate based on the quarterly Labour Force Survey. The most recent survey for the first quarter showed the unemployment rate at 5.9%, partly for seasonal reasons. F.M.