Unemployment rate Luxembourg dips to 5.6% in April

Companies in Luxembourg post 21% more jobs last month than same period in 2017.

The unemployment rate in Luxembourg dipped slightly to 5.6% in April, as the number of job openings ballooned during the month.

Employers reported 3,266 vacancies in April – an increase of 21% compared with the same period in 2017, according to figures from national employment office ADEM.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was down by 0.1% from 5.7% in March.

In total, 15,369 people were looking for work last month.

The number of jobseekers declined by 3.5% year on year, meaning 557 fewer people were looking for employment.

ADEM said the fall in the unemployment rate over the course of the year was particularly pronounced for those under the age of 30 and for low-skilled jobseekers.

The long-term unemployment rate, for people looking for work for more than a  year, stood at 5.1%.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits hit 5,065 at the end of April, representing a drop of 4.3% over the year.

There was nevertheless a 7.9% increase in those claiming benefits for adult-learning, reaching 438 people.

The number of people receiving benefits while they undertook a professional internship also jumped dramatically in percentage terms to 411%, up to 92 people from 18 in April 2017.

The six-week internship programme is available to those registered with ADEM who meet certain criteria such as being aged 30 or above. It is separate to internship agreements companies have with universities or private applicants.

The Luxembourg government is in the process of passing a bill through parliament that would create a legal framework for voluntary interns.

(Source: Luxembourg Times 2018, May 23rd)