site.btaUnemployment Rate Down 1.5 Percentage Points to 11.4 Per Cent in 2014

Unemployment Rate Down 1.5 Percentage Points to 11.4 Per Cent in 2014

Sofia, March 16 (BTA) - In 2014 there were 384,500 unemployed
persons in Bulgaria: 221,400 men and 163,100 women, the National
 Statistical Institute reported on Monday, releasing the main
results of its 2014 Labour Force Survey. The unemployment rate
went down by 1.5 percentage points compared to 2013 and reached
11.4 per cent last year. The unemployment rates for men and
women decreased by an almost equal margin, to 12.3 per cent for
men and 10.4 per cent for women.

The unemployment rate was 23.8 per cent for the 15-24 age group
(4.6 percentage points down from 2013) and 17.7 per cent for the
 15-29 age group (4.1 percentage points down from 2013).

The long-term unemployed (out of work for one year and over)
numbered 232,500, representing 60.5 per cent of the jobless
total. The long-term unemployment rate was 6.9 per cent (7.7 per
 cent for men and 6.0 per cent for women).

The economically inactive persons aged 15-64 numbered 1,486,900:
 653,800 men and 833,000 women. The inactivity rate (15-64
years) was 31.0 per cent (27.1 per cent for men and 35.0 per
cent for women).

The discouraged persons aged 15-64 numbered 188,700.

In 2014, the economically active population aged 15-64 was
3,308,700, representing 69.0 per cent of the population in that
age group. The activity rate (15-64 years) went up by 0.6
percentage points from 2013.

The employed persons totalled 2,981,400, representing 48.0 per
cent of the population aged 15 and over.

In 2014, the employed persons aged 15-64 totalled 2,927,400. The
 employment rate for that age group was 61.0 per cent (63.9 per
cent for men and 58.2 per cent for women).

The employment rate for the 20-64 age group was 65.1 per cent,
1.6 percentage points up from 2013. The employment rate (20-64
years) increased by 1.7 percentage points for men and by 1.3
percentage points for women, reaching 68.1 per cent and 62.0 per
 cent, respectively.

The employment rate for persons aged 55-64 was 50.0 per cent. It
 increased by 2.6 percentage points between 2013 and 2014 for
both men and women, reaching 54.5 per cent and 46.0 per cent,
respectively.

The share of early leavers from education and training in the
population aged 18-24 was 12.9 per cent. The share of persons
who have completed tertiary education in the 30-34 age group was
 30.9 per cent.