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Jobless almost double in October double affected by the Covid-19 pandemic

04/11/2020 14:23

Cyprus registered unemployed posed an annual 90% increase in October reaching 31,487 persons, as the pandemic takes it toll on the labour market, with the sector of accommodation and food services taking the heaviest blow.

According to data released by the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat), the spike in number of registered unemployed is associated mainly with the the sector of accommodation and food services, where unemployment rose by 5,283 persons compared with October 2019 and trade where jobless rose by 2,441 persons compared with the respective month of last year.

Other sectors posted a three-digit annual increase, such as transport and warehousing with 791 persons, education with 710 persons, professional, scientific and technical services with 690 and administrative and support service activities with 685.

Based on the seasonally adjusted data that show the trend of unemployment, the number of registered unemployed for October 2020 increased to 38,477 persons in comparison to 37,126 in the previous month, marking the fourth consecutive monthly rise.

Cystat noted that according to the information of the Department of Labour, the comparison of the data since March 2020 and onwards, with the data of the previous months is not considered safe. This is due to the implementation by the Public Employment Service of the extraordinary measures announced by the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance for automatic renewals of registered unemployed and new registrations of unemployed people without their physical presence in order to avoid the spread of coronavirus, Cystat added.