The Vice-President of the Government said the data revealed today by the National Statistics Institute (INE) regarding the unemployment rate in the last quarter "reveal, once again, a consistent and sustained reduction in the unemployment rate in the Azores."
 
"In the last quarter, the unemployment rate is the lowest in the last five years and, for the ninth consecutive quarter, there was an annual decrease in the number of unemployed in the Azores," said Sérgio Ávila. He stressed that "today there are 9,218 employed Azoreans than in the beginning of 2014 and 8,768 fewer unemployed Azoreans."
 
The Vice-President stressed that "there was a reduction of 13.5 percent in unemployed population last year, that is, 2,021 Azoreans managed to find a job last year alone."
 
Sérgio Ávila also highlighted the "significant reduction in the youth unemployment rate," which is another "priority" in the fight against unemployment.
 
"The data released today confirm the strategy the Government of the Azores has implemented towards the progressive reduction of unemployment and the sustained and consistent creation of jobs," said the government official.
 
For Sérgio Ávila, the data revealed by INE convey "more conviction, more strength and more energy to continue following this path," adding that this strategy "should be strengthened on a permanent basis."
 
"While there is an unemployed Azorean, there is a challenge we have to win," said the government official.
 
The unemployment rate of 10.7% recorded in the Azores is the third lowest in the country. Madeira records the highest rate at 13.2%, followed by Alentejo at 12%, Norte Region at 11.8% and Lisbon at 10.9%.