CAIRO: The Information and Decision Support Center of the Egyptian Cabinet revealed a decline in the rate of demand for Egyptian labor in the local market and abroad, where the index reached 368 points in May, compared to 758 in May 2009. The report published by the center, in charge of monitoring the economic and social indicators in Egypt, confirmed the continued rise in the country's unemployment rate and decline in employment opportunities through advertisements in national newspapers, together with the opportunities available through the Social Fund, as the number of jobs advertised in national newspapers dropped to 16,400 by 54.6 percent during last May, compared to 36,155 during the same period of last year. The report said that there is a decline in job opportunities advertised abroad, as well, reaching 2,700 jobs and a decline of 18 percent during May, compared to 3,300 jobs for the same period last year. The rate of jobs advertised in the national bulletin did, however, increase more than 90 percent, bringing the total jobs advertised to 28,200, compared to 14,700 in May 2009. The report also revealed a decline in job opportunities provided by the Social Fund for Development through projects by 35.2 percent. It noted the high level of employment in private and investment sectors, “as the number of hired employers there increased to 6,300; an increase by 195 percent during May, compared to 3,080 in the same period last year.” The index of domestic demand for labor declined to 1,472 points in May, coupled with declining demand for labor in the foreign market, the study revealed. BM
