Unemployment (sa) falls for second straight month

Seasonally adjusted unemployment fell for a second straight month in July, marking the first time in over three years that it has fallen for two months in a row.
The seasonally adjusted number was 28,871, down from 27,935 in June and a peak of 28,162 in May.
On an absolute basis, however, the number of unemployed registered at the District Labour Offices rose by 212 compared with June to 27,314 persons.
The number of registered unemployed was 19.3% higher than in July 2011.
By sector there was an increase of 1,178 compared with July 2010 in retail and wholesale trade, 870 in construction, 347 in public administration, 328 in manufacturing, 318 in transportation and storage, 288 in accommodation and food service activities and 732 newcomers to the labour market.
The Statistical Service does not publish a registered unemployment rate but according to Eurostat, which makes estimates based on registered unemployment and labour force survey data, the unemployment rate was 7.6% in June, compared with a eurozone average of 9.9%.
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