The Employment Service on Sunday reported that 150,159 jobseekers registered with the service since the start of the third nationwide lockdown four weeks ago - 5,560 of them registered over the weekend.
According to the service 80.8% of them were forced on unpaid leaves while about 18% were fired or chose to resign.
The service added that those working in teaching, education and training continue to be the main group among the new job seekers.