Unemployment rate (survey data)
2011 02 18
PRESS RELEASE

CHANGES IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN 2010
IN 2010 THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STOOD AT 17.8 PER CENT

According to the estimates of the Labour Force Survey, conducted by Statistics Lithuania, the unemployment rate in the country in 2010 stood at 17.8 per cent, which is by 4.1 percentage points more than in 2009.

In 2010, the male unemployment rate was higher than the female one: the male unemployment rate stood at 21.2, the female one – at 14.4 per cent. Over the year, the male unemployment rate grew by 4.2, the female one – by 4 percentage points. In 2010, the unemployment rate in urban areas was lower than that in rural areas: the unemployment rate in urban areas stood at 16, in rural areas – at 22.4 per cent (in 2009, at 12.6 and 16.5 per cent respectively).

The youth (aged 15–24) unemployment rate in 2010, compared to 2009, grew by 5.9 percentage points and stood at 35.1 per cent. In 2010, the youth unemployment rate was twice as high as the total unemployment rate in the country.

In 2010, based on the estimates of Statistics Lithuania, the number of the unemployed amounted to 291.1 thousand and, compared to 2009, grew 1.3 times. In 2010, each ninth resident of Lithuania aged 15–74 was unemployed (in 2009, each twelfth).

In 2010, the long-term unemployed, i.e. persons who have been looking for a job for a year and longer, accounted for 41.4 per cent of the total number of the unemployed. In 2010, there were 120.6 thousand long-term unemployed persons in the country. Over the year, the number of the long-term unemployed grew 2.3 times.

In 2010, based on the data of the Lithuanian Labour Exchange, the average number of the registered unemployed stood at 312.1 thousand, which is 1.5 times more than in 2009.

Based on the Labour Force Survey estimates, in 2010, there were 1 million 344 thousand persons working in the country; compared to 2009, this figure dropped by 72.2 thousand, or 5.1 per cent. Over the year, the largest decrease in the number of persons employed was observed in construction, where it decreased by 29.3 thousand, or 23.9 per cent; the number of persons employed in industry dropped by 22.2 thousand (8.5 per cent), while in professional, scientific and technical and real estate activities a slight growth was observed – by 4.2 and 1.6 thousand (9.3 and 13.5 per cent) respectively.

In 2010, the employment rate of the population aged 15–64 stood at 57.8 per cent; over the year, it dropped by 2.3 percentage points. The employment rate of males aged 15–64 was lower than that of females. In 2010, the male employment rate stood at 56.8, the female one – at 58.7 per cent; over the year, it decreased by 2.7 and 2 percentage points respectively.

In 2010, the youth (aged 15–24) employment rate stood at 19.2 per cent; over the year, it dropped by 2.3 percentage points. In 2010, the employment rate of the elderly (aged 55–64) stood at 48.6 per cent; over the year, it dropped by 3 percentage points.

IN IV QUARTER 2010, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DECREASED TO 17.1 PER CENT

In IV quarter 2010, based on the estimates of Statistics Lithuania, the unemployment rate in the country stood at 17.1 per cent, which is by 0.7 percentage point less than in III quarter 2010. The male unemployment rate in IV quarter 2010 stood at 19.1, the female one – at 15.1 per cent.

In IV quarter 2010, the youth (aged 15–24) unemployment rate stood at 32.4 per cent; compared to III quarter 2010, it dropped by 3.1 percentage points.

In IV quarter 2010, the number of the unemployed amounted to 281.9 thousand, which is by 10.1 thousand, or 3.5 per cent, less than in III quarter 2010.

Based on the Labour Force Survey estimates, in IV quarter 2010, there were 1 million 367 thousand persons working in the country; compared to III quarter 2010, this figure grew by 15.9 thousand. Over the quarter, an increase in the number of persons employed was observed in construction (by 8 thousand), human health and social work (4.8 thousand), and transport and storage (3.9 thousand).

In IV quarter 2010, the employment rate of the population aged 15–64 stood at 59.2 per cent; over the quarter, it grew by 0.7 percentage point. The employment rate of males aged 15–64 was higher than that of females. In IV quarter 2010, the male employment rate stood at 59.4, the female one – at 59.1 per cent.

In IV quarter 2010, the youth (aged 15–24) employment rate stood at 21.4 per cent; over the quarter, it grew by 1.6 percentage points. In IV quarter 2010, the employment rate of the elderly (aged 55–64) stood at 50.3 per cent; over the quarter, it grew by 2 percentage points.

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Statistical information is based on the Labour Force Survey data. The survey was carried out applying a sampling method. In IV quarter 2010, 14.4 thousand (0.5 per cent) residents of Lithuania aged 15 and over had been interviewed, and the survey results were subsequently recalculated for the total population of the country.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND IN THE WORLD

Based on provisional data of the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat), the unemployment rate in the European Union in 2010 stood at 9.6 per cent. The highest unemployment rate among the EU Member States was recorded in Spain (20.1 per cent), the lowest – in the Netherlands (4.5 per cent).

Based on provisional data of Eurostat, in 2010, the unemployment rate in the United States of America stood at 9.6, in Japan – at 5.1 per cent.

A press release on changes in the unemployment rate in I quarter 2011 is due on 20 May 2011.
 

Deputy Director General	Dalia Ambrozaitienė
Contact: Violeta Skamaročienė Deputy Head, Living Standard and Employment Statistics Division Tel. (+370 5) 236 4958 Email violeta.skamarociene@stat.gov.lt