Unemployment eases to 8.5 percent in May

Unemployment in June fell by 0.2 of a percentage point from May to 8.5 percent with almost 488,000 people seeking work, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs announced on Monday. The jobless rate in June 2009 stood at 8.0 percent. A stabilisation or slight fall in the unemployment rate had been expected by analysts. Labour offices say the drop was caused by the hiring of seasonal workers on farms and by the construction industry and recruiting by manufacturers.

Author: Chris Johnstone