Congo: Unemployment rate estimated at less than 10% this year

Brazzaville, Congo (PANA) – The Congolese president, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, on Tuesday said the unemployment rate in the country is estimated at less than 10% of the working population.

"Today, the unemployment rate is estimated at less than 10% of the working population, or less than 200,000 job seekers," said the Congolese president in Brazzaville.

He added that in 2013, employment, informal sector not included, rose by 6.4% including 10.3% for permanent jobs.

President Sassou-Nguesso said that the good statistics was linked to the expansion of the civil engineering sector, the performances of manufacturing industries and the timber sector, as well as the promotion of activities in the tertiary sector, particularly telecommunications, transport and trade.

In 2013, the inflation rate was estimated at 4.7% as against 5% in 2012.

For this year, it was estimated at 3.4%, said the Congolese president who underlined that it was essentially the rise in prices for foodstuffs and massive imported construction materials that led to high inflation rates.
-0- PANA MB/BEH/IBA/MSA/MA 12Aug2014