The number of long-term jobseekers fell 9.2% over a year, as did low-skilled candidates (11.1%) and jobseekers aged under 30 (8.1%) photologue_np/Creative Commons

The number of long-term jobseekers fell 9.2% over a year, as did low-skilled candidates (11.1%) and jobseekers aged under 30 (8.1%) photologue_np/Creative Commons

According to figures published by job centre Adem on Tuesday, there were 16,599 jobseekers on 31 January 2018, down from 17,676 on January 2017.

The number of long-term jobseekers fell by 9.2% over a year, as did low-skilled candidates (-11.1%) and jobseekers aged under 30 (-8.1%).

At the same time, the number of jobseekers with degrees rose by 197, equivalent to 6.8%.

During January, employers registered 3,988 new vacant posts (of a total 6,145 jobs advertised), marking a 20% increase on the same month in 2017.

Trending profiles

Of the 10 profiles most sought after by employers in January were IT developers, building maintenance, kitchen staff, secretarial, accounting, catering, construction, cleaning, commercial flight navigation and front office markets for finance. These made up a little over a quarter of all postings that month.

Of the jobseeking population in January, the largest group had just secondary school education (8,797), 6,430 had been out of work for 0-3 months and 7,085 were aged 45 and above.

In addition to the 16,599 jobseeking residents, Adem recorded 2,754 non-resident jobseekers, a figure which rose by 2.3% (63 people) over a year.

The unemployment rate for January 2018 was at 5.6%, down from 5.8% in December 2017, and 6.1% in January 2017.