BRUSSELS – There was a total of 172,608 unemployed job seekers in Flanders in April, a drop of 19.6 percent compared to the same month last year. This is the strongest year-to-year decrease of the past year.

The past year has been characterised by a steady decrease in unemployment figures, reports Flemish minister Vandenbroucke. The decrease in April brings the figures closer to the lowest level in five years.

Vandenbroucke is pleased with the figures but warns that the challenges are still enormous.

There were still 29,533 unemployed young people at the end of April. “More than half of them have no qualifications from secondary education. So it is not the time for rejoicing quite yet,” Vandenbroucke said.

[Copyright Expatica News 2007]

Subject: Belgian news