Economist: unemployment statistics do not reflect the real situation: they are distorted by those who want to receive benefits

According to data from the Employment Service, on July 20 there were 220.7 thousand people in the country. unemployed or 12.8%. of the total population of working age. Unemployment registered in March was 9.3 percent.

The head of the service Inga Balnanosienė says that unemployment is growing due to the difficult economic situation in the country, in addition, the indicator is affected by the lower need for employees this summer.

“The situation is real because we do not register people who work. The supply of seasonal jobs in the field of services and restaurants was quite high in the following summers, but the number of jobs in this sector is lower this year, due to What the number of people who normally worked in the summer has decreased this year, which means they have registered with the Employment Service, I. Balnanosienė told BNS.

“The other part is the students who go to the service in summer in any case, (…) they return and those who work in temporary jobs abroad: closed borders, limited mobility, limited labor markets in other countries especially affect people not rated. ” Of course, there are also layoffs at companies that have reduced the number of employees due to operational prospects, “he added.

Swedbank economist N. Mačiulis says official unemployment is more indicative than how many cannot find a job, but how many are willing to receive job search benefits of 200 euros, as other people who have been unemployed for a long time have started registering for the service.

According to the economist, the most realistic situation is reflected in Sodra’s data: according to them, from March 1 to June 1, the number of employees decreased by 26 thousand and, from June 1 to July 15, it increased by 26.5 thousand.

“These are eloquent statistics showing that jobs are being created rapidly after quarantine and that employment is returning to pre-crisis levels. And the unemployment rate registered in the Employment Service has increased due to the mid June saw a temporary job search benefit appear and encouraged people who were previously inactive in the job market to register, ”N. Bach told N. Mačiulis.

According to him, the “health” of the labor market is not shown by the number of registered employees, but by the number of jobs created and hired employees.

At the time, I. Balnanosienė states that the job search benefit increased the unemployment rate by only 0.2-0.3 points.

“The job search benefit has influence but a small amount. I really don’t think there is a big increase here. Those people who are inactive in the labor market have registered, of course, but let’s not see it as a bad thing, we must think about the fact that those people are finally out of the shadows and that even if their participation is activated, it will be a absolute victory for our state. until the state allowed them, “said the head of the service.

According to her, of 220.7 thousand. Some 106 thousand people applied for benefits.