Unemployment rate drop in Moldova in first quarter of 2016, high among young people

Chisinau, 4 June /MOLDPRES/ - The unemployment rate was of 6.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2016, decreasing against the same period of 2015, when it reached the maximum level of the last years, respectively 8.5 per cent. Yet, unemployment remains high among young people, according data put out by the National Statistics Bureau (BNS).       

Official statistics also shows a tendency of increase in the unemployment in the previous quarters, with its rate standing at three per cent in the third quarter of 2015, and 4.2 per cent in the fourth quarter.   

According to BNS, in the first three months of 2016, the unemployment rate was 8.3 per cent among men and, respectively, four per cent – among women. The unemployment rate stood at 13.9 per cent among young people (15-24 years), with the index being of 12 per cent in the age category of 15-29 years.

The economic active population amounted to 1,123,700 people, up by 6.6 per cent against the first quarter of 2015.

As much as 16.6 per cent of all the working residents were employed in the informal sector, and one third (33.2 per cent) had an informal job.  

There were 67,400 sub-employed persons (people having a job, yet working involuntarily less than hour per week; at the same time, they are willing to work additional hours). This accounts for six percent of all the economic active population. The number of persons from this category decreased by 5.2 per cent against the first quarter of 2015.    

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor L. Alcaza)