- Title: German jobless rate hits new record low in May
- Date: 31st May 2017
- Summary: NUREMBERG, GERMANY (MAY 31, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF GERMAN FEDERAL LABOUR OFFICE HEAD OF FEDERAL LABOUR OFFICE DETLEF SCHEELE ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE PEOPLE LISTENING VARIOUS OF SCHEELE SPEAKING MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF FEDERAL LABOUR OFFICE, DETLEF SCHEELE, SAYING: "The progress in the job market in recent months is continuing. The economic climate is good and accordingly the job market is continuing to develop well. Unemployment went down again in May. Employment is growing strongly and the demand for new workers is still at a very high level. In May 2,498,000 people were unemployed - less than 2.5 million. That's the lowest number since May 1991. We find that quite notable." PEOPLE LISTENING NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF FEDERAL LABOUR OFFICE, DETLEF SCHEELE, SAYING: "The decrease in long-term unemployment is also encouraging, and is largely responsible for the positive development of the job market. In May 2017, 97,000 fewer long-term unemployed people were registered than a year before. There are currently 910,000. We consider this a very satisfactory development, because it has remained constant over recent months. The number is still too high, but we are seeing a steady reduction and we are pleased about that." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 14th June 2017 12:15
- Keywords: unemployment labour market record employment
- Location: NUREMBERG, GERMANY
- City: NUREMBERG, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA0016J658JX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The German unemployment rate dropped to a new record low in May, data showed on Wednesday (May 31), in another sign of the strength of the labour market in Europe's largest economy.
Data from the Federal Labour Office showed the seasonally adjusted jobless rate edged down to 5.7 percent from 5.8 percent, remaining at its lowest level since German reunification in 1990. Economists polled by Reuters had expected it to hold steady.
The number of people out of work decreased by 9,000 to 2.536 million. That was less than the predicted fall of 15,000 in a Reuters poll.
"The economic climate is good and accordingly the job market is continuing to develop well," Detlef Scheele, head of the Federal Labour Office, told reporters. "Employment is growing strongly and the demand for new workers is still at a very high level," he added. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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