Unemployment dipped by 1.3% year-on-year in Bulgaria over the third quarter of 2016 compared to the same period of last year, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) has announced.

There were 229 000 unemployed persons in the third quarter of 2016. Their number went down by 50 300 compared to the period between July and September of last year.

Some 130 100 (56.8%) of them were men and some 98 900 (43.2%) were women.

The long-term unemployment rate was 4.3% and in comparison with the respective quarter of 2015 it decreased by 0.9%. The long-term unemployment rate was 4.7% for women and 3.9% for women.

Of the total number of unemployed persons 41 thousand, or almost 18% were looking for a first job.

On the other hand,the workforce in the third quarter consisted of 3.0527 million employed persons aged 15 years and over, of whom 1.623 millionmen1.4291 women. The share of employed persons in the total population aged 15 years and over was 49.9% and went down by 0.4 % compared tot the third quarter of 2015. In employment were 55.2% of men and 45% of women in the age group concerned.

Of all employed persons 3.5% were employers, 7.6% were self-employed persons without employees, 88.4% were employees and 0.6% were unpaid family workers. Among the employees 74.5% worked in private sector and 25.5% worked in public sector. In comparison with the third quarter of 2015 the number of employees decreased in both sectors, by 1% in private sector and by 0.6% in public sector.

Of all employees approximately 140 900 persons or 5.2% had temporary jobs, according to the The Labour Force Survey.

The employment rate for the group aged between 15 to 64 years was 64.2%. People aged between 15 and 29 years had an employment rate of 38.9%, while the 557 thousand employed persons aged 55-64 make up 55.6% of population in the same age group.

In comparison with a year earlier the employment rate (55-64) was higher by 1%.