GUS: Unemployment rate declines in April for first time in nearly a year

For the first time since last May the unemployment rate has dropped. In April it fell to 13.7% against 13.9% in March, according to the Central Statistical Office (GUS). That brings the number of unemployed registered in labor offices to 2.49 million which is 43,600 less than in March. "In April the number of job offers was a bit higher than in the previous month and the number of people who found jobs in public works was up. But training, which is the most effective way of fighting unemployment was down," said GUS vice-president Janusz Witkowski. According to him new positions are being created mainly in small companies from the service sector. More than 77% of the unemployed are not entitled to unemployment benefits. (Prawo i Gospodarka, page 1, 2, 4, Zycie, page 11) E.B.