Number of employed edges up 0.1% from March to 3.414 million (illustration)
Photo: Index Open
April jobless rate up from 6.6% to 6.9%
Number of employed grows slower than expansion of labor force, Central Bureau of Statistics says
Israel's
unemployment rate rose to 6.9% in April from 6.6% in March as the number of employed grew slower than the expansion of the labor force, the Central Bureau of Statistics says.
The number of employed edged up 0.1% from March to 3.414 million, with 59.4% of those above the age of 15 having jobs, unchanged from March, the bureau said.
The participation rate in the labor force of those above 15 years old increased to 63.7% from 63.5%.
Israel's economic growth is slowing as a result of the global downturn and grew an estimated 3.2% in 2012 after a 4.6% pace in 2011. It is projected to grow 2.8% this year excluding natural gas production.
