September unemployment rises to 16.3% with outlook getting gloomier

The Central Statistical Office (GUS) reported on Friday that the number of r egistered unemployed rose in September by 27,800, bringing the total number of people without jobs to 2.92 million, or 16.3% of the workforce. By compar ison, in the same period of 2000 the unemployment rate was 14%, and accordin g to GUS the negative trend will continue. Moreover, 2.4 million of those re gistered as looking for work have no right to unemployment benefits. In Sept ember, 222,200 people were added to the unemployed register, while 194.400 w ere removed. However, only 102,800 of these had found a job. According to an alysts, restructuring and retrenchments in companies will entail further lay-offs, creating an even gloomier outlook on the job market. (Rzeczpospol ita, Oct. 20-21, p. B2) J.K.