The unemployment rate decreased to 6%, two-thirds of the unemployed persons were represented by long-term unemployed

The number of the unemployed persons decreased by almost 20 thousand people to 168 thousand people, year-on-year, in the summer. The number of the unemployed in the pre-retirement age group increased, followed by young people aged 25-34. The total number of the unemployed decreased in all regions.

According to the Labour Force Survey (LFS)¹⁾, the number of the unemployed persons decreased by 10.6% and reached 167.9 thousand persons, year-on-year, during the 3rd quarter. The number of the unemployed decreased for the fifth quarter in a row. The unemployment rate indicating the share of the unemployed among economically active persons was 6.0%, year-on-year, it decreased by 0.7 percentage points (p.p.).

After seasonal adjustment, the number of the unemployed²⁾ decreased by 4% to 164.3 thousand persons compared to the previous quarter.

It is not possible to compare current data from the LFS over a longer period of time, in 2021 it has come to significant methodological changes due to a new EU legislation³⁾.

Most of the unemployed, almost 111,000 people, were unemployed for one year or more. Year-on-year, their number increased by a tenth and their share among the unemployed reached 66.1%. The short-term unemployment decreased by a quarter to 57.1 thousand persons, year-on-year, these are people who were unemployed less than 12 months.

A year-on-year decrease in the unemployed was recorded in all age groups. Among the more numerous age groups, the most significant relative declines were recorded in the 55-59 age group, from which a third of persons decreased, and at the same time in the 25-34 age group, with a decrease of almost 15% of persons.

As for the last employer's economic activity, most people last worked in industry, trade and construction. More than 29% of the unemployed (49.3 thousand people) were the unemployed, never worked before.

From a regional point of view, the number of the unemployed decreased, year-on-year, in all regions of Slovakia in the 3rd quarter of 2022. The highest number of the unemployed relatively decreased in Trnavský kraj (a decrease by 33.4%) and in Žilinský kraj (by 27.5%). The most unemployed was recorded in Prešovský kraj (more than 40 thousand people), Košický kraj (more than 34 thousand people) and in Banskobystrický kraj (almost 33 thousand people).

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The highest unemployment rate remained in Banskobystrický kraj and Prešovský kraj, where it moved around 10%. In Košický kraj, it reached 9%. On the contrary, the lowest unemployment rate was recorded in Bratislavský kraj (2.1%). It was followed by Trenčiansky kraj and Žilinský kraj with a value below 4%.

As for the dynamics of development, the most significant change in the unemployment rate was recorded in Trnavský kraj (a decrease of 2 p.p.) and in Žilinský kraj (a decrease of 1.4 p.p.). All regions recorded a decline in the unemployment rate, with the exception of Trenčiansky kraj and Banskobystrický kraj, where the unemployment rate remained approximately at last year's level.

Unemployment in the 1st to 3rd quarter of 2022

In the first nine months of 2022, the number of the unemployed persons decreased by 9.6% year-on-year and reached 170.9 thousand persons. The unemployment rate in the SR decreased by 0.7 p.p. to 6.2%. The total number of the unemployed according to the economic activity of the last employer decreased most significantly in accommodation and food service activities, in industry, in administration, as well as in arts, entertainment and recreation. Despite the falling total unemployment, however, the number of the unemployed, never worked before has increased. Their total number increased by 6.2% year-on-year and reached almost 50,000 people in the first 9 months of 2022. Approximately every third unemployed person was the unemployed, never worked before.