The level of unemployment in Bulgaria in August 2009 was 7.88 per cent, according to data released by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the National Employment Agency.

The August unemployment rate increased by 0.26 per cent from July and by 1.99 per cent year-on-year. The average monthly unemployment rate since the beginning of 2009 was 7. 12 per cent.

According to the latest data provided by Eurostat, the average unemployment rate in the EU was 9 per cent in July 2009.

The number of unemployed people registered at job centres was 291,852, or 9,641 more than in July. Newly registered unemployed worked mainly in the manufacturing industry (20.4 per cent), trade (16.2 per cent), state аdministration and defence (15.4 per cent), construction (7.1 per cent) and agriculture (3.5 per cent).

In August 2009, unemployment rate remains lower than the country's average in the following eight regions: Sofia city (2.20 per cent), Bourgas (3.83 per cent), Varna (5.36 per cent), Gabrovo (5.73), Stara Zagora (6.67 per cent), Plovdiv (7.32 per cent), Pernik (7.77 per cent) and Rousse (7.79 per cent).

In the rest of Bulgaria, unemployment rate exceeds the average unemployment rate in the country. The list is topped by the following regions: Smolian (14.45 per cent), Turgovishte (13.69 per cent), Montana (13.46 per cent), Shoumen (12.92 per cent), Vidin (12.02 per cent), Silistra (11.91 per cent), Razgrad (11.8 per cent) and Vratsa (11.01 per cent).

The total number of job vacancies announced at job centres in August was 11,666, or 1,516 less than in July, including 10,992 vacancies on the primary labour market, mainly in the private sector.

Most of the job vacancies are in the manufacturing industry (3,190 vacancies), trade (2,490 vacancies) and education services (1,585 vacancies), due to the start of the school year, followed by construction industry (625 vacancies), hotel and restaurant industry (558 vacancies) and real estate industry (480 vacancies).

A total of 9,867 people started work in August, including 8,189 people who got primary-market jobs. Another 1,383 people were included in training and mployment programmes.

Source: BTA