Unemployment rate down by 0.4% in Armenia

Unemployment has dropped by 0.4 points to 6.9% as of December 1 in Armenia compared to the figures in previous quarter, according to Employment State Service agency.

At a press conference today, Sona Harutyunyan, the head of the agency, said that the unemployment rate is above the average in the regions of Lori (11.1%), Syunik (10.1%), Shirak (9.6%), Kotayk (9.3%), Tavush (8.7%) and Yerevan (8.1%).

By December 1, the number of people looking for jobs has been 95,300 which is 4.6% less compared to the same period in 2009 and less by 4% compared to the beginning of 2010, she added.

Harutyunyan went on saying that of all the unemployed only 83.8% are looking for jobs.

Women remain dominant among those unemployed – 70.1%.

Currently, unemployment benefits are given to 20,467 people. This means that the number has decreased by 21.4% against the same period last year and by 22.7% compared to the beginning of the year.

Sona Harutyunyan further said that since January 2010 the agency has helped 10,515 citizens find jobs – 18.6% more than it did last year.