The unemployment rate in Slovakia reached 13.61 percent in January of this year. Compared with December of last year, it increased by 0.11 percentage points, informed the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family on Thursday.
According to analysts, the increase reflects legislative changes as well as seasonal trends in the corporate sector. McROY consultancy group notes that a rise in unemployment in January after the Christmas season is quite common. “The good thing is that the inflow of new unemployed decreased by approximately 8,000 people year-on-year. A negative aspect, however, is that as of 1 January, new legislative measures - such as the expansion of higher-level collective agreements and the introduction of tax licences, have entered into force. This lowers firms’ appetite to hire new people,” said McROY Group chief Ľuboš Sirota.
