site.btaJanuary Job Starts on the Rise: Employment Agency Data

The number of unemployed people who started work in January with the assistance of the National Employment Agency was 11,343, an increase of 2,436 people compared to the previous month, according to administrative data released by the agency on Friday.

The largest share of newly employed in the labour market was in manufacturing - 15.8%, followed by trade - 14.6%, public administration - 9.3%, human health - 6.7%, and construction - 4.6%. In the same month, 326 pensioners, students and employees also found work with the support of the employment offices. In the European Union countries 914 unemployed people started work with the help of the labour offices, the Employment Agency said. 

A total of 280 unemployed people from at-risk groups have found employment through subsidised jobs - 74 under employment programmes and measures, and 206 under schemes of the Human Resources Development Programme 2020-2027. A total of 232 unemployed and employed people have been involved in various trainings, and 587 people have completed the training started in the previous months, acquiring a new profession or key competence.

The registered unemployment rate in the country increased marginally by 0.2 percentage points on a monthly basis and reached 5.8% in January. The number of registered unemployed persons at the end of the month totalled 165,840, up by 7,635 persons compared to the previous month. A total of 26,981 new unemployed persons were registered at the labour offices in January. There was an increase compared to the previous month by 8,204 persons, and compared to January 2023 the newly registered persons were 2,687 more, the agency also said. 

Another 601 people from the jobseeker groups of employed, students and pensioners also registered with the labour offices during the month. This group also saw a 77.3% increase in demand for the agency's services compared to the previous month. As a result of the work of the Roma and youth mediators, as well as of the labour intermediaries in the labour offices, a total of 4,250 inactive persons on the labour market were activated during the month.

At the labour offices in January, representatives of the primary market claimed 10,037 vacancies compared to 4,452 in December 2023. In the real economy, the largest number of vacancies were in manufacturing - 28.2%, public administration - 12.4%, trade - 12%, education - 9.6%, hotels and restaurants - 7%, administrative and support activities - 5.8%.

The occupations most in demand by businesses in January were: machine operators of stationary machinery and equipment; cleaners and helpers; personal care workers; salespersons; personal service workers; workers in the mining, manufacturing, construction and transportation industries; skilled food, apparel, wood products and related workers; drivers of motor vehicles and mobile equipment; metal workers, machine and related workers and craftsmen; teachers, etc., the Employment Agency further said.