(according to the Labour Force Survey) ¹⁾

Unemployment rose to 6,7 % in the corona-crisis year, the number of unemployed did not increase significantly in the last quarter, compared to the third quarter

In 2020, unemployment grew, year-on-year, a growth rate in the number of unemployed people accelerated, especially in the third quarter and the development was also similar in the last quarter. In the 4th quarter of 2020,  according to the LFS 2), the number of unemployed was by 22,5 % higher year-on-year (by 34,9 thousand persons), which was caused by changes in previous months. In general, there was 189,8 thousand unemployed people. In the last three months of 2020, the unemployment rate of the SR reached 7 %; year-on-year, it was higher by 1,4 p.p..

Compared to the 3rd quarter of 2020, after seasonal adjustment, unemployment remained unchanged at the level of 190,2 thousand persons.

Short-term unemployment increased, the number of unemployed from 3 to 6 months rose most dynamically, their number almost doubled year-on-year.

The unemployed, with one exception, increased in all age groups. The largest growth was in the age group 35 - 49 years old (by 19,2 thousand to 72 thousand persons) and in the age group 25 - 34 years old (by 8,4 thousand to 50 thousand persons), these were the largest age groups as for the number of unemployed. The unemployed decreased slightly, year-on-year, only in the age group of 50 - 54 years old.

The number of unemployed without a work experience increased, their share in total unemployment was 21,9 % and their number increased by 4,1 p.p. year-on-year. In terms of the economic activity of the last employer, the most people was last employed in industry, trade and accommodation and food service activities.

In the last quarter of 2020, unemployment rose in all regions, mostly in the eastern part of the country. In Košický kraj, the number of unemployed persons increased by 9,7 thousand to 36,7 thousand persons and in Prešovský kraj by 7,4 thousand to 50,4 thousand persons. Both regions had the highest level of regional unemployment rate and also recorded the highest increase. In Košický kraj, the unemployment rate increased by 2,5 p.p. to 9,7 % and in Prešovský kraj by 2 p. p. to 12,6 %.

Unemployment in 2020

In summary for the whole year, the unemployment rate increased by 0,9 p.p. to 6,7 %. The number of unemployed persons increased by 15 % year-on-year and the number of unemployed reached 181,4 thousand persons. In particular, short-term unemployment rose, with the largest increase in the number of unemployed within 1 month.

As for the most important sectors for the year 2020, the number of unemployed, who last worked in industry and in accommodation and food service activities, increased the most.

At the year-round level, as for the regions, the number of unemployed increased most dynamically in Bratislavský kraj by 40,7 % and in Trenčiansky kraj by 35,6 %. At the same time, the most significant increase in the unemployment rate was recorded in Prešovský kraj by 2 p.p., where 12,1 % of the population engaged in an economic activity was without a job at the year-round level. It is a region with the highest unemployment rate in the SR in the long-term.

An above-average increase in the unemployment rate by 1,1 p.p. was also recorded in Trenčiansky kraj with 3,9 % and Žilinský kraj with 5,5 % of the population engaged in an economic activity without a job. The pitfalls of changes in the labour market during the corona-crisis were best resisted by Banskobystrický kraj, where the unemployment rate remained approximately at the level of 2019, with 7,9 % of the population engaged in an economic activity without a job.