Romania in EU top 10 unemployment

Romania ranks 9th in the Eurostat top, with an unemployment rate of 6.9 percent in July, 0.1 percent above member states’ average. This year brought a decrease in unemployment, compared to July 2006, when the unemployment rate was 7.5 percent.
Although analysts say unemployment will continue to drop, job lossees might increase on the short run, due to exporting companies and the end of seasonal activities. 

“Appreciation of the national currency affected some producers for both the domestic and export market. We might witness a reduction in jobs, especially in the furniture industry,” according to the President of Businessmen’s Association of Romania (AOAR), Florin Pogonaru, for Business Standard.

The National Employment Agency (ANOFM) also announced that this month some 1,700 people are likely to lose their jobs, especially in the private sector . However, the market will assimilate rapidly the unemployed labor force, specialists say.
Lowest unemployment rates in member states, in July, were in Denmark - 3.2 percent, the Netherlands - 3.4 percent, Cyprus - 4.1 percent, and Austria - 4.3 percent. At the opposite pole, the highest rates were in Slovakia, with 10.6 percent, and Poland with 9.7 percent. The EU had an unemployment rate in July of 6.8 percent, lower month-on-month (6.9 percent) and year-on-year (7.9 percent).