IN JANUARY-DECEMBER 2009 UNEMPLOYMENT LEVEL WAS 6.9% IN ARMENIA

ARKA
Feb 2, 2010

YEREVAN, February 2. /ARKA/. In January-December 2009 unemployment
level was 6.9% versus 6.3% in January-December 2008.

In December 2009 number of job seekers officially registered in
"State Employment Service of Armenia" was 99.3 thousand, from which
86.3 thousand were unemployed. Status of unemployed received 84.5
thousand people.

At the end of December 2009, 70.8% from total number of officially
registered job seekers were women (59.8 thousand people).

By the results of January-December 2009 total number of economically
active population was 1185.1 thousand, from which 1103.7 thousand
are employed.

As of the end of December 2009, 25.7 thousand from total number of
unemployed received benefits versus 16.6 thousand in December 2008.

Average number of monthly benefit was 17039 drams (14280 drams in
December 2008).

As of the end of December 2009, working force was 738 people (117
unemployed for 1 vacancy). ($1 -375.83 drams).