Unemployment rate has fallen to 7,2 percent

The situation on the labour market has been influenced by the start of seasonal works.

The latest available data from the Ministry of Social Affairs show that the unemployment rate in the Czech Republic has slightly fallen to 7.2 percent, from 7,5 in February. A total of 525 thousand job seekers has been registered by the Czech Labour Office by the end of March, compared to approximately 547 thousand in February 2014 or to over 600 thousand in March 2014.

On the regional level, the unemployment rate has decreased in all 77 districts over the last month, in two (Klatovy and Jindřichův Hradec) by more than 10 percent. The monthly change reflects predominantly the beginning of seasonal works, in particular in the construction and agricultural sectors.

The slight recovery of the Czech economy can be documented by nearly a double annual increase in job offerings presented by the Labour Office to the current 76 thousand, however according to the Labour Office, the positive labour market development is also influenced by supportive measures within the governmental Active Employment Policy (community works and so-called socially beneficial positions, as of end of March a total of nearly 87 thousand job seekers benefited from the support).

With the arrival of warm weather, the employers will start to hire new workers so the unemployment rate will decrease further, very probably, according to the Labour Office.

The highest unemployement rate at 10,4 percent has been recorded in the Ústecký kraj in North-West Bohemia, the lowest one in Prague (5 percent).

One year ago, the unemployment rate was at 8,3 percent, the number of people without a job has been by 83 000 higher than today.