Podgorica, (MINA-BUSINESS) – According to the Government, Montenegro has recorded a registered unemployment rate below eight percent for the first time.

 

The Government said in a press release that Montenegro had achieved a historic milestone in the labour market.

 

“According to the latest data from the Employment Office, the registered unemployment rate stood at 7.84 percent in May, representing the lowest registered unemployment rate since the it began keeping these statistics,” the Government said.

 

The press release stated that, for the first time in Montenegro’s history, the registered unemployment rate had fallen below the 8 percent threshold, confirming continued positive trends in the labour market and the results of government measures in the field of the economy, employment and improving living standards.

 

At the end of May, the Employment Office’s records showed 24,750 unemployed people.

 

Compared with the end of 2023, when nearly 40,000 people were registered as unemployed, the number of unemployed has fallen by more than 15,000, or approximately 38 percent. 

 

Compared with May 2024, when 35,420 people were registered as unemployed, the number has declined by 10,660, or almost one-third.

 

“Even more significant is the fact that the registered unemployment rate stood at 20.48 percent at the end of 2020, while today it is 7.84 percent,” the Government said.

 

According to the press release, positive trends are present across all regions of the country. 

 

In May this year, the registered unemployment rate was 28.47 percent in the northern region, 4.57 percent in the central region and 2.31 percent in the coastal region.

 

“Although the north continues to record the highest unemployment rate, this region remains a focus of development policies and employment programmes aimed at encouraging investment, creating new jobs and achieving more balanced regional development,” the press release reads.

 

A significant contribution to these results has come from employment services and active labour market programmes implemented by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Dialogue and the Employment Office.