The number of registered unemployed in Portugal fell 13% last December, but the Algarve led the way with a drop of nearly 17%.
Compared to December 2013, unemployment decreased in all regions of Portugal last December with the Algarve showing the best set of figures.
The total number of those registered without a job at employment centers was 598,581 at the end of December 2014, 13.3% fewer compared to 2013, according to official figures which although not accurate, do reflect trends.
By age group there was a welcome decline in unemployed young people (-17.5%), more so than in unemployed adults (-12.7%).
At the regional level, in December 2014 unemployment decreased in all regions of the country, but the Algarve led the way with a drop of 16.7% as the tourism dependent region recovers strongly with record tourism receipts and numbers of visitors.
Comments
(but that is an universal rule, isn't it ?)
What really interests me is the definition of registered unemployed. How long is an individual allowed to remain on the list of registered unemployed? How long after becoming unemployed does one register on the list? How many people have left the list, not because they have become employed, but because of some administrative compulsion? How many people are unregistered and unemployed?
As you say, Editor, numbers produced by government agencies are notoriously untrustworthy, and may indicate only a trend. You write that there is a decline in unemployed young people, when I think you mean a decline in the number of young people who are registered as unemployed.