Unemployment benefits fell by 2.4% in July, compared to the previous month, and by 33.7% compared to the same period last year, totalling 159,768, according to monthly statistics published by Social Security.

"In the year-on-year variation, the numbers show a decrease of 81,220 beneficiaries", stresses the Strategy and Planning Office (GEP) of the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, which prepares the monthly summary.

In July, females represented 58.4% of the total beneficiaries of unemployment benefits and males 41.6%.

The number of recipients of unemployment benefit was 121,623, an increase of 0.2% compared to June and a decrease of 27.8% compared to the same period of the previous year, that is, 46,889 less.

The initial social unemployment benefit was processed to 4,939 beneficiaries in July, a decrease of 1.4% monthly, a reduction of 30.8% compared to the same month of 2021.

In the case of the subsequent social unemployment benefit, there was an increase in beneficiaries in July, by 2.1% compared to June and by 109.7% compared to the same period last year, to 27,142 in July.

In July, the average value of unemployment benefits stood at €550.19.