The number of registered unemployed persons on the last day of May 2020 was up an annual 68.1%, attributed mainly to the hospitality sector, according to figures released by the Cyprus statistical service.
But it noted that comparison of the data since March 2020 and onward with that of previous months is not considered objective due to the implementation by the Public Employment Service of the extraordinary measures announced by the Ministry of Labour, for automatic renewals of registered unemployed and new registrations of unemployed people without their physical presence in order to avoid the spread of coronavirus.
It said the total number of registered unemployed stood at 29,604 persons. Based on the seasonally adjusted data that show the trend of unemployment, the number was 34,082 persons in comparison to 32,000 in the previous month.
In comparison with May 2019, an increase of 11,997 persons or 68,1% was recorded, attributed mainly to the sectors of accommodation and food service activities (an increase of 7,185), trade (an increase of 1,504), transportation and storage (an increase of 757), administrative and support service activities (an increase of 615), professional, scientific and technical activities (an increase of 442) and arts, entertainment and recreation (an increase of 349).
