LJUBLJANA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Slovenia's unemployment rate rose to 4.9 percent in October, the highest level recorded since March 2021, the country's Statistical Office reported on Friday.
The rate increased by 0.4 percentage point compared to September and by 1.4 percentage point from October 2023, when it stood at 3.5 percent. In September, the unemployment rate was 4.5 percent.
The report highlighted that the jobless rate among men reached 5 percent, slightly higher than the 4.8 percent recorded among women.
The rise in unemployment comes as many Slovenian companies face declining demand for their products, leading to planned workforce reductions. Among them is the Slovenian unit of German car parts manufacturer Mahle, which has announced it will lay off 600 workers in Slovenia next year.
In response to the increasing joblessness, the government has announced plans to introduce a new scheme in the coming months to provide state subsidies for individuals temporarily out of work. ■