Unemployment rate reached 5,7 %, down by a fifth year-on-year.

Unemployment decreased year-on-year in the 2^nd quarter of 2019, unemployment rate reached 5,7 %, compared with the 2^nd quarter of 2018 it dropped by 0,9 %. According to the LFSS, the total number of unemployed, decreased, year-on-year, by 26,5 thous. (by 14,6 %) to 155 thous. persons, which was again the lowest value of unemployment since its measurement according to LFSS. The downward rate slowed by 4,1 p.p. compared with the situation last year.

Unemployment reached the same value of 5,7 % for both genders, with a year-on-year decrease in men by 0,5 p.p. and in women by 1,5 p.p. In the quarter-on-quarter comparison (2^nd quarter of 2019 compared with 1^st quarter of 2019), seasonally adjusted unemployment decreased by 0,8 % (by 0,5 %) to 159,2 thous. persons.

In terms of age structure, the largest group of unemployed persons aged 35-49 represented 33,7 % of total unemployment (52,3 thousand persons). In this age category, the number of unemployed also decreased most significantly (by 10 thousand persons). Unemployment also decreased in the other categories, with the exception of 60+ years, where the number of unemployed increased slightly.

The unemployed persons, who have never had a job, represented 22,5 % of the total unemployment, their share dropped by 1,2 p.p., year-on-year. The most significant number of unemployed decreased in public administration, social security by 4,8 thous. persons. Unemployment increased in four sectors, but the year-on-year increase did not reach the threshold of one thousand persons.

Unemployment decreased in all regions, relatively the most in Bratislavský kraj (by 28,8 %) and Košický kraj (by 24 %). Regional unemployment rate reached the highest level in Prešovský kraj (9,4 %) and Banskobystrický kraj (8,1 %). Year-on-year drop of unemployment rate was in all regions, the most considerably in Košický kraj (by 2,3 p.p.).

In the first half of 2019 unemployment rate reached 5,8 % (year-on-year, the downward rate decreased by 1,1 p.p.). The number of unemployed dropped by 16,2 % to 157,4 thous. persons, year-on-year.