Unemployment edges up in Estonia

The number of registered jobless increased in December in Estonia by 549 people and reached 33,520 people, which formed 5.1 percent of the working-age population, Postimees Online reports.

In November, the unemployment rate was also 5.1 percent. In December, 5,096 new people registered as jobless.

Joblessness was highest in Valgamaa (9.1 percent) and Ida-Virumaa (8.7 percent) and lowest in Viljandimaa county (3.8 percent) and Tartumaa (4 percent).

Unemployment insurance compensation was paid in December to 26% of the jobless and jobless benefits were paid to 21 percent of the jobless.

In 2013 on average, 37,062 people were registered as unemployed, which is by nearly 6,000 jobless less than in 2012. The registered unemployment rate thus fell from 6.6 percent in 2012 to 5.7% in 2013.