Year-on-year increase by 1,123 persons in December 2020 unemployment register

Data provided by Jobsplus for December 2020 indicate a year-on-year increase of 1,021 persons registering under Part I and an additional 102 persons registering under Part II of the unemployment register.

Registered unemployment levels increased across all age groups.

Part I of the unemployment register refers to either new job seekers who have left school, re-entrants into the labour market or individuals who have been made redundant by their former employers.

Part II of the unemployment register are either workers who have been dismissed from work due to disciplinary action, left work out of their own free will, refused work or training opportunities or were struck off the register after an inspection by Law Enforcement personnel.

Unemployment register figures tally with a year-on-year increase in the unemployment rate for December 2020, which stood at 4.5 per cent, compared to 3.6 per cent in December 2019.

The unemployment rate refers to unemployed persons (15 to 74 years) as a percentage of the labour force (15 to 74 years).

Those registering for work for less than 21 weeks and those registering between 21 and 52 weeks, increased when compared to December 2019 levels.

The largest increase was recorded among persons who had been registering between 21 and 52 weeks.

On the other hand, those who had been registering for work for more than one year, decreased when compared to the same month in 2019.

The number of persons with a disability who were registering for work increased by 28 when compared to the previous year, reaching 254. Males accounted for 72.4 per cent of total registrants with a disability.

The largest share of males and females on the unemployment register sought occupations as clerical support workers, with 21.6 per cent and 37.9 per cent respectively.