The registered unemployment rate in Slovakia fell to 5.38% in September, according to data published by the Centre for Labour, Social Affairs and Family (CLSAF) of the Slovak Republic on October 19. The rate dropped by 0.04 percentage points month-on-month and by 1.04 percentage points year–on-year.  

The number of available jobseekers was 147,803 in September. “We recorded a drop by 1,132 people m/m,” said Director-General of the CLSAF Marian Valentovic.

The unemployment rate, based on total number of candidates, reached 6.52% in September, a decrease by 0.02 percentage points m/m. The total number of jobseekers in September reached 179,123. “We recorded a drop of 220 people m/m, down by 27,764 y/y,” added Valentovic.

According to the Minister of Labour Jan Richter (Smer-SD), September is specific for the fact that mature students stop having their contributions paid by the state. As of September 1, they are either employed, continue to study or are registered with the employment office.

There is a positive trend in recent years, the Minister noted, as the number of secondary school graduates who register at the labour offices is decreasing. “The decrease is 3% y/y, 5.8% two years ago,” said Richter.

Regionally, the highest recorded unemployment rate is in the Presov Region (8.98%) in September. Above average unemployment was also recorded in the Kosice Region (8.67%) and the Banskobystricky Region (7.38%).