Cyprus unemployment climbs 31.1%

Registered unemployment in Cyprus climbed in May by 31.1% reaching 34,162 at the end of the month, compared with 26,050 in May 2011.
Since the beginning of 2008 registered unemployment in Cyprus has climbed by 2.5 times.
Unemployment is also rising on a seasonally adjusted basis, increasing to 36,313 (seasonally adjusted) in May from 35,402 in April.
As is now a common pattern, workers in sectors relating to property and the consumer fared worst.
Unemployment among construction workers rose by 1,899 compared with the year earlier, unemployment in the wholesale and retail trade sector also rose by 1,899 and joblessness in manufacturing rose by 1,244.
There was also an increase of 694 in unemployment among public administration workers and a rise of 625 in the sector of accommodation and food service activities.
Newcomers to the labour market rose by 411.
Eurostat estimated that the unemployment rate (measured on a different basis from registered unemployed) reached 10.1% in April, compared with an EU average of 11%.