Unemployment rate in September stood at 8.03 per cent, up from 7.88 per cent in August.

Seven regions reported lower than the country average rate in September: Sofia City (2.40 per cent), Bourgas (4.17 per cent), Varna (5.62 per cent), Gabrovo (5.83 per cent), Stara Zagora (6.63 per cent), Plovdiv (7.39 per cent) and Pernik (7.97 per cent).

Unemployment rate in Rousse (8.04 per cent), Dobrich (8.14 per cent), Veliko Turnovo (8.31 per cent), and Haskovo (8.35 per cent) was near the average.

The regions of Smolyan (14.78 per cent), Montana (13.61 per cent), Turgovishte (13.58 per cent), Shoumen (12.90 per cent), Silistra (12.13 per cent), Vidin (12.11 per cent), Razgrad (12.05 per cent), Pazardjik (11.43 per cent) and Lovech (11.40 per cent) reported higher than the average rate.

The average monthly unemployment rate between January and September is 7.22 per cent. EU27 unemployment rate between January and August was 8.65 per cent, the National Employment Agency (NEA) said. According to Eurostat latest figures jobless in the EU were 9.10 per cent in August.

The NEA said that a total of 14,286 vacancies were placed in September, which is 2,620 more from August. Some 13,912 jobs were placed on the primary labour market. By September 30, there were 5,585 vacancies at employment offices. Traditionally, demand for teaching and training staff is higher in September.

Another 673 jobless and employed persons were included in various employment and training schemes in September.

In September, jobless registered with employment offices across the country totalled 297,515. They fall mainly with the fields of services (49.8 per cent) and industry (29.7 per cent). Newly unemployed come from the processing industry (20.8 per cent), trade (16.9 per cent), construction (8 per cent) and state governance and defence (7.3 per cent).

Source: BTA