Algerian government expects unemployment rate to drop

[Al-khiyal]

The Algerian Ministry of Employment and National Solidarity forecasts that the unemployment rate will drop under 10% by 2008, Liberte daily reported on Sunday (January 21st). The forecast is based on various projects launched in the country and the government supported programmes for economic revival and development of the High Plateaus and the South. According to the official data of the National Statistics Office, the rate of unemployment was 15.3% in 2005 and dropped to 13.4% in 2006.

Algerian government expects unemployment rate to drop

[Al-khiyal]

Algeria's unemployment rate in 2006 fell to 12.3% compared to 15.3% the previous year and 17.7% in 2004, figures released by the national statistics office (ONS) on Wednesday (January 24th) showed. The significant growth in employment, mainly among youths, was boosted by the strong economic activity the country has enjoyed for the last two years. Soaring energy exports, as well as intensified government efforts, have helped the trend. More than 81,000 small- and middle- sized firms have been set up by the National Youth Employment Supporting Agency (ANSEJ), creating more than 231,000 jobs nationwide. The government plans to create 2 million jobs by 2009, as part of a $60 billion, five-year program to spur growth.

Algeria's unemployment rate drops to 12.3%