Focus Taiwan
Date: 04/22/2020
By: Tsai Peng-min and Chiang Yi-ching

Taipei, April 22 (CNA) Taiwan's unemployment rate increased slightly in March due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) said Wednesday.

The jobless rate showed a 0.02 percentage point rise in March from a month earlier to 3.72 percent, but after seasonal adjustments, it was 3.76 percent, a monthly increase of 0.06 percent percentage points and the highest since last May, DBGAS data showed.

In March, the number of unemployed persons in the country increased by 2,000, or 0.45 percent, from the previous month to 445,000, according to the DGBAS.

The number of workers who lost their jobs due to downsizing or closure of companies increased by 7,000 in March, while the number of employees who quit to seek other jobs decreased by 2,000, as did the number of first-time job seekers, the data showed.    [FULL  STORY]