Number of job seekers jumps in statistical glitch

Luxembourg job seekers up 9%, but figure is distorted by change in the rules last year

The number of people looking for a job in Luxembourg rose by 8.9% last year, data from the local statistics office, Statec, show, but the rapid increase was largely driven by a statistical fluke. 

Over the year, the number of Luxembourg residents looking for employment expanded by 1,346 individuals, to 16,532 people.

Statec explained that the strong increase in the number of job seekers was “a backlash that comes after the exceptional drop [in the number of job seekers] observed at the end of 2018,” which was related to a new procedure for registering applicants. This resulted in an administrative delay in entering some of the applicants into the 2018 figures.

The number of non-resident job seekers registered with the employment agency ADEM stood at 2,382 at the end of 2019, a decrease of 9.6% compared to the end of 2018. 

The unemployment rate in Luxembourg was at 5.4% at the end of 2019, virtually unchanged from the previous year.