Hungary jobless rate unchanged at 10.4% in Jul-Sep

The employment rate in the age group rose 0.3 percentage points from the previous three-month period to 51.4% in July-September, rising 1.2 percentage points in one year. The activity rate of the 15-74 age group rose to 57.4%, and the rate rose to 65.0% in the 15-64 age group, where the jobless rate also levelled out and employment rose, the KSH figures reveal.
Although part of the rise could be seasonal, the activity rate of both age groups reached its highest level measured since the start of 2008. Public work programmes as well as changed regulations on eligibility for social support could be among factors behind the rise. Among those in the 15-64-year-old age group, the jobless rate was 10.5% in July-September, staying flat from the previous three-month period and dropping 0.3 percentage points from a year earlier. The employment rate in the age group rose 0.4 percentage points from June-August to 58.2% and was up 1.8 percentage points in one year.
In both age groups, the unemployment rate for men was flat in one year, while that of women fell. The employment ratio among women rose more than among men. There were 457,700 unemployed in Hungary in the 15-74 age group on average in July-September, up 2,000 from June-August and down 4,300 from a year earlier. In the 15-64 age group, jobless numbers rose 2,700 from the previous three-month period to 456,900, down 4,900 in one year.
The number of unemployed were about 43,000 off the 500,000 peak they reached after the 2008 crisis at the beginning of 2010, but were still well above their pre-crisis level of about 320,000. 20.1% those unemployed were in the 15-24 age group, only limitedly present on the labour market. The unemployment rate for this age group was 29.4%, up 0.4 percentage point from the previous three-month period and up 2.7 percentage points from a year earlier.
KSH said 46.9% of the unemployed had been looking for work for a year or more. The average time the unemployed spent seeking jobs was 17.3 months. KSH noted that data from the State Employment Service (AFSZ) show there were 527,000 registered job seekers at the end of September, 1.9% less than a year earlier.
The number of employed in the 15-74 age group averaged 3,935,500 in July-September, rising 21,700 from June-August, and up 79,600 from one year earlier. Within the 15-64 age group, the number of employed rose 23,200 from June-August to 3,901,400, rising 79,300 in one year. Employment in both age groups slightly exceeded the pre-crisis levels.
The "employed" in these statistics include people with all forms of employment contracts who have worked more than one hour a week during the period or are on sick leave or paid absence.