Israel’s unemployment rate unchanged in May

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) published last week its "Labour Force Survey Data" for May 2013.

The CBS noted that Israel's unemployment rate held steady at 6.9% in May amid a slight rise in the number of employed and dip in the labour participation rate.

The number of employed edged up 0.1% from April to 3.415 million, with 59.3% of those above the age of 15 having jobs, unchanged from April.

The participation rate in the labour force of those above 15 years old slipped to 63.7% from 63.8% in April. Israel's economy grew an estimated 3.2% in 2012 after a 4.6% pace in 2011. It is projected to grow 2.8% this year, excluding natural gas production.