According to the flash report of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) published this morning, the upward employment trend is unbroken. In March-May 2014, the number of people aged 15-74 years in employment increased by 195 thousand, from 3 million 910 thousand one year ago to 4 million 105 thousand. Accordingly, the employment rate edged up from 51.2 percent to 54 percent. Besides public work programmes, more and more people are employed by the private sector which confirms the effectiveness of the Government’s employment policy.

The employment rate within the age group of 15-74 years grew from 51.2 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year to 54 percent, an increase of 2,8 percentage points. As far as the gender aspect of employment is concerned, it can be concluded that indicators improved for both men and women. The employment rate of men aged 15-64 years was up year-on-year by 3.8 percentage points to 67.5 percent, while that of women reached 55.5 percent in the observed period. The monthly increases in women’s employment rate recorded this year were the largest within the EU member states and thus the Hungarian indicator is fast approaching the EU average.

In the period March-May 2014, the number of jobless was down year-on-year by 104 thousand in Hungary. Accordingly, in comparison to the corresponding period of 2010, the number of unemployed people dropped by 357 thousand. The respective unemployment rate fell by 2.5 percent to 8 percent, reaching a nearly six-year record low.

(Ministry for National Economy)