The number of registered job seekers in Brussels reached 94,821 by the end of August, marking a 0.8% decrease compared to the same period last year, according to figures from Actiris, the regional employment office, published on Wednesday.
The unemployment rate in the region now stands at 15.1%, reflecting a modest drop of 0.12 percentage points year-on-year.
In August, Actiris recorded 8,650 new unemployment registrations, comprising 5,623 re-registrations and 3,027 first-time entries, compared to 8,020 people leaving unemployment. This represents a 3.9% month-on-month increase in the number of active job seekers.
Year-on-year, the employment office notes a 2.6% drop (1,394 fewer people) in the number of job seekers receiving unemployment benefits. Similarly, there has been a 4.4% reduction (289 fewer individuals) in young people participating in professional integration internships.
Out of the total 94,821 job seekers, 19,070 (equating to 20.1%) are registered with the Public Centre for Social Welfare (CPAS). This figure has risen by 5.5% over the past year.
