Unemployment up to 6.8 percent in January

Unemployment grew by more than expected in January to 6.8 percent. The number of unemployed in the Czech Republic rose last month by over 48,000 to nearly 384,000, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Work and Social Affairs on Monday. Analysts were expecting the unemployment rate to be closer to 6.5 percent. As it is, the rise in unemployment is the highest in the history of the modern Czech Republic. At the same time, the number of unoccupied positions fell by over 77,000. According to government statistics, for every one unoccupied job in the Czech Republic, there are currently over five jobless.