Podgorica, (MINA-BUSINESS) – At the end of June, there were 34,720 unemployed individuals registered with the Employment Office, with a registered unemployment rate of 11.56 percent.

The Management Board, chaired by Aleksandar Sipcic, adopted the report on activities for the first half of the year, which shows a significant improvement in the labour market situation in Montenegro.

“An evident decrease in the number of unemployed people by 5,590 persons or 13.87 percent and a reduction in the unemployment rate by 2.19 percentage points, compared to the same period last year, indicate positive trends in the labour market as well as a better economic situation in the country,” stated a press release issued by the Employment Office.

In the first half of the year, the number of newly registered unemployed people was 8,570, which is 21.4 percent fewer compared to the same period last year.

“However, challenges remain, particularly regarding long-term unemployment, which encompasses a significant percentage of the unemployed. Regional disparities persist, with the highest number of unemployed people in the Podgorica Regional Unit, covering the municipalities of Podgorica, Danilovgrad, Zeta, Tuzi, and Cetinje, the Rozaje Regional Unit, covering Rozaje and Petnjica, and the Bijelo Polje Regional Unit, covering Bijelo Polje, Mojkovac, and Kolasin. The lowest number of unemployed people was recorded in the Herceg Novi Regional Unit, which includes Herceg Novi, Kotor, and Tivat.”

The report indicates that employers reported 14,100 job vacancies, which is an 18.83 percent fewer compared to the same period last year.