The average number of the registered unemployed for the year 2011 reached 28,276 persons, compared to 22,842 persons in 2010, recording an increase of 23.8%, according to the Statistical Service. The unemployed persons, registered at the District Labour Offices on the last day of December 2011, reached 32,895 persons.

Based on the seasonally adjusted data that shows the trend of unemployment, the number of registered unemployed for December 2011 increased to 31,432 persons in comparison to 30,991 in the previous month. Furthermore, in comparison with December 2010, an increase of 7,202 persons or 28.0% was recorded which was mainly observed in the sectors of trade, construction, accommodation and food service activities, manufacturing, public administration, as well as to newcomers in the labour market, where an increase of 437 unemployed persons was recorded.