Unemployment hits 15% at years end for a total of 2.7 million out of work

According to the Central Statistical Office (GUS), unemployment in Poland rose last month to 15%. At the end of December the number of the registered unemployed increased to 2.7 million, 352,800 more than a year earlier. Among the jobless 79.7% or 2.15 million individuals have no right to benefits. In 1999 the corresponding figure was 1.8 million. Forms of support offered by the government to those regions with the highest number unemployment include higher pre-pension benefits, grants for graduates and loans for the unemployed and employers. First of all we have to provide employers better conditions to hire people says Bozena Pawlowicz from Dolnoslaskie voivode, where the unemployment rate at the end of November was 28.5%. (Puls Biznesu, p.6; Zycie, p.6) A.Z.