Estonia's registered unemployment up 0.4 percent on year in November
The number of registered unemployed in Estonia stood at 30,553 at the end of November, making up 4.8 percent of the total workforce between the ages of 16 and retirement age and up 0.4 percent on year.
Compared to the previous month, the number of registered unemployed in November rose 3.1 percent. The number of persons with limited capacity for work totaled 9,362, making up 31 percent of all registered unemployed, the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund (EUIF) said.
The rate of registered unemployment remained highest in Ida-Viru County at 9.6 percent and in Valga and Põlva Counties at 8.8 percent each. Unemployment was lowest, meanwhile, in Harju and Saare Counties at 3.5 and 4.1 percent, respectively. Unskilled workers made up the biggest portion of the registered unemployed who had previously worked, accounting for 23 percent of the total, ahead of service and sales personnel at 18 percent and skilled workers and craftsmen at 17 percent.
During November, 4,454 new offers were added to the job offers available via the EUIF, 11 percent fewer than in October but 15 percent more than in November 2016.
The EUIF had a total of 9,540 jobs on offer during the month, the largest portion of which were for service and sales personnel (24 percent of all jobs), skilled workers and craftsmen (20 percent), and equipment and machinery operators and assembly workers (19 percent).
During the month 2,987 people, including 618 persons with limited capacity for work, found employment or started a business with the help of the EUIF.
9,294 people, or 27 percent of the registered unemployed, received unemployment insurance benefits in November. The average benefit per calendar month was €446 in size; the total amount disbursed surpassed €3.5 million. The basic unemployment allowance of €151 per month was paid to 6,748 people, or 19 percent of the registered unemployed.
Layoff benefits were paid to 398 people last month, with an average payout of €2,003. More than €740,000 was paid out in layoff benefits. The benefit in case of employer insolvency was awarded to 159 persons, with an average benefit size of €3,401 and a total of more than €574,000 disbursed under that item.
Editor: Aili Vahtla
Source: BNS