Poland's jobless rate dips to 15.5 percent in August

Poland's unemployment rate dipped to 15.5 percent in August, down from 15.7 percent a month earlier, according to government figures released Monday.

The Central Statistical Office partly attributed the drop to seasonal work in such sectors as agriculture, forestry and gardening.

The office's numbers were a touch below preliminary figures released earlier this month by the Labor Ministry, which estimated unemployment at 15.6 percent.

In August last year, the jobless rate was 17.8 percent.

Poland's unemployment has gradually declined since its post-1989 peak of 20.7 percent in February 2003. However, it remains the highest in the European Union, which the country joined in 2004.
Source:www.iht.com