The search for work continues - Photo Photopress/Martin Ruetschi
NEUCHATEL, SWITZERLAND - For the third consecutive month the unemployment rate held steady at 2.7% said Tuesday 7 August, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, Seco.
The number of people out of work in July 2012, was 116,294 persons. That is the number registered on the jobless rolls or Regional Employment Agencies (ORPs) throughout the country.
Although unemployment has held steady for the past three months, the number of unemployed increased by 6.5% compared to July 2011 and youth unemployment is significant, 11.8% more than in June 2012 and 9.1% more than last year.
Geneva remains the canton with the highest rate of unemployment in Switzerland with 4.7% or 0.1 percentage points less than at end June, followed by Neuchatel with 4.5% (+0.1 points), Vaud with 4.4% (+0.1 points), and the Ticino with 3.9% (+0.1 points).
The unemployment rate in canton Jura increased (+0.2 points) to 3.1% while the Valais rate fell slightly to 2.7% (-0.1 points). Fribourg and Bern remained stable at 2.1% and 1.8% respectively.
