Fewer than 18,000 people were seeking work in Luxembourg at the end of January this year, a fall of 3.1% against the same time last year, according to figures just released by Adem, Luxembourg’s employment development agency.
According to the report, 17,792 resident job seekers are registered with the ADEM, 576 fewer than a year ago, bringing the current employment rate to 6. 2%, part of a general downward trend seen over the last three years.
2,296 people registered with the ADEM in January, an increase of 146 compared to January 2016, and a jump that is attributed to seasonal slowdown in the construction sector caused by January’s difficult weather conditions. The agency notes that the increase is very marked in the construction trades. One third of those registering were doing so for the first time.
At 9,347, men represented 52.5% of jobseekers, while women accounted for a significant proportion of the fall in the number seeking work. At 8,445, there were 414 fewer women seeking work at the end of January this year than at the end of January a year ago.
Education level makes a big difference, but surprising those with a higher level of education accounted for a higher number of job seekers, at 3,324, than those with a low-middle level of education, who accounted for 1,964. The highest proportion though fell to those with a low education level, accounting for 7,338 people.
In January 2017, employers had declared 3,314 vacant positions with ADEM, an increase of 5.8% from January 2016. The largest number of those fall under the rubric of commercial support, with 1,699 jobs under offer, while the construction industry comes second with 602. Hospitality as well as personal and group services accounted jointly for more than 1,000 positions.
