The number of unemployed increased by 35,761 people in March, passing over 500,000 - the maximum level in the past three years - and nearing the Labor Ministry estimations for the unemployment rate at the end of the year, data at the Labor Force Occupation Agency (ANOFM) indicate. The current unemployment rate was reached before in April 2006.
The Labor Ministry estimations for this year were at first of 525,000 unemployed, but after discussing with the IMF delegations, officials said the figure could be above 800,000. ANOFM still supports the idea that the figure will not pass over 600,000.
The maximum number of unemployed in Romania was 1.291 million people in 1994, while the minimum was 337,084.
