Czech jobless rate up at 9.9 pct in Feb, highest since July 2004

Analysts had expected a growth in the jobless rate of more than 10 percent. In January, unemployment stood at 9.8 percent.

In February 2009, statisticians registered a jobless rate of 7.4 percent.

The number of job seekers registered at employment offices increased by 8,909 month-on-month to 583,135 at end-February. Year-on-year, the number of registered unemployed rose by 154,287.

The number of job seekers ready to start work immediately grew by 6,077 month-on-month to 568,486 in February. In the same month a year ago, the number was 151,865 lower.

There were a record 18.2 applicants per a job vacancy in February, the same as the previous month. The statistical office registered the biggest number of applicants per vacancy in the districts of Teplice (69.4), Karvina (67.4), Trebic (61), Znojmo (50.8) and Decin (49.9).

A total of 57,944 job seekers newly registered at employment offices during February, a drop of 30,132 month-on-month. Compared with February 2009, the number decreased by 11,265.

Employment offices offered 32,120 job vacancies at end-February, which was 563 more against January. Against February last year, the number of offered jobs declined by 32,761.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz