Unemployment rate to go up to 8.5pct this year

The Government is considering a rise in the unemployment rate to 8.5 percent when drafting the budget revision, up from the originally estimated 7.3 percent, according to figures unveiled at a meeting with the employers and unions at the Public Finances Ministry on Monday.

There will be 760,000 out-of-work Romanians this year, up from the previously estimated 645,000, the employers' representatives said during the talks. The average employees' number will be cut by 67,000, namely to 4.665 million from 4.732 million.

The budget revision is calculated on an average gross salary earning of 1,910 lei, i.e. lower than the originally projected 1,925 lei. According to the National Employment Agency, the joblessness rate nationwide was 7.43 percent in July, slightly down from 7.44 percent in June and up from 6.3 percent in July 2009

Agerpres