The unemployment rate increased with 0.3 percent in August, reaching 4.8 percent. The total number of unemployed is 437.811, according to the data released by the National Agency for Work Force (ANOFM). The number of people who lost their job in August is 2.652.
According to ANOFM, the biggest unemployment rates were recorded in Vaslui county (East Romania, 8.8 percent), followed by Teleorman (South-West, 8.6 percent) and Dolj (South, 8.4 percent). On the other side, 14 counties saw their unemployment rate reduced. The unemployment rate in Bucharest reached 2 percent. Other decreases were recorded in Bacau county (0.3 percent), Iasi (0.2 percent) and Sibiu (0.2 percent). The lowest unemployment rate of 1.8 percent is recorded in Ilfov county.
The unemployment rates climbed in 25 counties. Significant increases are recorded in Bistrita-Nasaud county (0.6 percent), Covasna (0.4 percent) and Harghita (0.3 percent).
The number of unemployed claiming benefits decreased by 1152 persons to 150.127 at end-August. Another 287.684 people, or 65.7 percent of the unemployed do not receive any form of compensation. Their number increased by 3811 in August.
In August, the national male unemployment rate decreased to 4.93 percent. In the case of females, the rate increased to 4.65 percent.
Ovidiu Posirca