Unemployment remained at 8.5% in September, as we expected. The total number of unemployed dipped by 3 thousand, as the labor offices were more aggressive in pushing unemployed either to work (47 thousand people found a job in September, 30% more than in August), or out of the labor force (21 thousand people were put off the list, the highest number this year). There were almost 65 thousand new unemployment status claimants, the highest number this year bar traditionally high January. Only 36% of unemployed were found eligible for unemployment benefits, the rest claimed general social security benefits, which often equal unemployment benefits.
(Ondrej Schneider)