OREANDA-NEWS. March 29, 2010. The number of officially registered jobless persons in Belarus increased 7.9% in January-February 2010 to 43,500 as of March 1, 2010, told an official with the National Statistics Committee.

Belarusian unemployment rate was at 0.9% of the economically active population as of March 1, 2010, no change from late February 2009.

Besides, 102,100 people, or 3% of Belarusian labor force, were made to work part-time in January, same as in January 2009.

The number of Belarusians that went on a forced leave in January 2010 fell 11.2% on the month to 47,500 workers.

Most of the empty man-days in January, at 358,400, were in industry, accounting for 75.3% of the total.

According to the Statistics Committee, in February, the average unemployment benefit amounted to 48,900 Belarusian rubles (Br), down 1% from January, or to 19% of the minimal subsistence wage.

In January-February 2010, 46,200 Belarusians were registered as unemployed, 80.8% of all people that applied to job centers.

In January 2010, Belarusian labor force was estimated at 4,612,900 people, up 0.9% from January 2009.