MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Unemployment figure surprises Chile.

An unexpected raise in the national unemployment rate reaching 9,4% in the March-May quarter surprised Chilean authorities and market analysts who were expecting a slight decline closer to 8,8%. The 9,4% index represents a 0,7% increase over the previous quarter and 0,6% over the same period in 2003.

According to the Chilean Statistics Office, INE, the labor force in the March-May quarter reached 6.159.250 people, 1,1% over the same period last year. The number of employed was 5.578.370, with a 0,8% drop compared to the previous quarter, and the number of unemployed 580.880, an 8,7% increase over the same period in 2003.

As to gender, unemployment among men reached 8,4% and 11,4% for women, which compared to a year ago means a 0,5% and 0,9% increase respectively, and 0,8% and 0,5% over the previous quarter.

Compared to the same period a year ago the most employment dynamic sectors were Electricity, water and gas with a 13,2%; Mining and quarries 8,3%; Communal, social and personal services 4,5% and Financial Services 4%.

Employment contraction was reported in Construction 4,4%; Transport, Storage and Communications 3,1%; Manufacturing 3%; Agriculture, Fisheries 1,5% and Commerce 0,5%.

Compared to the previous quarter Electricity, water and gas increased 6,6%; Communal, social and personal services 1,2%, while employment contraction occurred in Agriculture and Fisheries 5,7%; Mining and quarries 3,4%; Transport, storage and communications 1,9%; Financial services 1,2%; Construction 0,7%; Manufacturing 0,1% and Commerce 0,1%.