As of 31 May 2026, the National Employment Agency (ADEM) was counting 19,674 resident jobseekers, 6.5% more than a year earlier.
The rise touches every age group, but is slowing among those under 30. The most highly qualified remain the hardest hit, posting a 15.1% increase. Secretarial, IT and banking occupations recorded the largest gains.
Despite the rise, the unemployment rate adjusted by the National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (STATEC) slipped slightly to 6.2%. New registrations were also down by 1.4%. The number of residents receiving full unemployment benefit fell to 9,842, a drop of 6.8%, while those drawing waiting allowances rose to 1,551, up 1.3%. Employment support measures benefited 4,627 people, an increase of 3.8%.
Among non-residents, registrations rose by 5.6% and the total number of jobseekers climbed to 4,144, up 19.4%. More than half are enrolled in external redeployment schemes, at 2,433, a rise of 10.5%. Voluntary registrations exploded to 34.8%. The number of non-residents drawing full unemployment benefit stood at 1,018, down 9.7%, while 1,827 were receiving a waiting allowance or a professional waiting allowance, up 8%.
In May, employers reported 3,049 job vacancies, an increase of 7.6%, although the total number of vacancies on the books fell to 6,928, down 3.8%. The strongest gains came in industrial cleaning, design and engineering, goods handling, and paramedical care.
