In December compared to November the number of registered unemployed in Estonia increased by 0.1 percentage points to 4.3 percent of the working-age population.
Registered unemployment rises to 4.3 pct in December
13th January 2015, 12:22
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At the end of December the people registered as out of work numbered 27,597, the Unemployment Insurance Fund reported on Tuesday.
In 2014 the average number of people registered as out of work was 29,502, about 7,500 less than in 2013. The registered unemployment rate decreased from 5.8 percent in 2013 to 4.6 percent in 2014. Last year the decline in the number of registered unemployed was somewhat faster than in 2013.
According to CEO Meelis Paavel the speed of the unemployed finding work has increased throughout years and two in three unemployed persons will find a new job in a year.
The rate of registered joblessness was highest in the Valga and East-Viru counties at 8.7 percent and 8.2 percent, respectively, and lowest in the Harju and Tartu counties at respectively 3.1 percent and 3.3 percent. Unskilled workers made up the biggest part of the registered jobless who had previously worked, 20 percent, followed by craftsmen and skilled workers with 19 percent, and service and sales personnel with 17 percent.
Compared to November less job offers came in in December. During the month 2,059 new job offers came in. The total number of jobs on offer during the month was 5,194.
Recipients of the unemployment insurance benefit numbered 8,567, making up 28 percent of the registered jobless. The average benefit per calendar month was 388 euros and the sum total disbursed exceeded 2.8 million euros. The basic unemployment allowance of around 112 euros a month was paid to 7,048 persons, 23 percent of the total number of registered jobless. In 2014 the sum total of the unemployment insurance benefit disbursed was 39.4 million euros and of the unemployment allowance was 8.3 million euros.
The redundancy benefit was paid to 343 people in December and the average size of the benefit awarded in that month was 1,616 euros. The sum total paid out in redundancy benefits exceeded 541,000 euros.
The benefit in case of insolvency of the employer was awarded to 42 persons during the month. The average size of the benefit was 2,527 euros and overall more than 137,000 euros was disbursed under that item. In 2014 a sum total of 3.4 million euros was disbursed as the benefits in case of insolvency.