In the October-December period, the ratio of unemployment among men aged 15–74 dropped by 1.5 percentage points to 4.4%, while for women it dropped by 2 pps to 4.5%, according to the KSH data.

In the period, the average duration of unemployment was 17.9 months; 46.6% of unemployed people had been searching for a job for one year or more (i.e. were long-term unemployed), the KSH said.

At the end of 2016, as compared to the previous year, the total number of registered job seekers decreased by 19% to 273,000, according to administrative data of the National Employment Service, the KSH reported. 

In the January-December period, the unemployment rate diminished by 1.7 pps to 5.1% in the 15–74 age group, compared to the preceding year. 

The number of unemployed men aged 15–74 decreased by 34,000 to 128,000, and their unemployment rate by 1.5 pps to 5.1%, the KSH said, adding that the number of unemployed women declined to a greater extent; their number fell by 39,000 to 107,000, and their unemployment rate by 1.9 pps, also down to 5.1%.