Bosnias jobless rate edged up to 44.5% at end-Dec 2012 from 44.4% a month earlier, the countrys labour and employment agency said in a statement. The unemployment rate stood at 43.8% at end-2011. The agency also gave figures for January 2013, pointing out that the number of registered unemployed increased by 2.5% y/y to 554,640, mainly due to rise in unemployment registrations in the Federation (up 3.5% over the period). In monthly terms, the number of unemployed edged up 0.7% in January. The agency did not provide figures on the January unemployment rate. According to the latest IMF forecast, Bosnias unemployment, which remains one of the highest in Europe, is set to decline in the mid-term as economy recovers. In the short-term, however, the unemployment will stay high and together with IMF-enforced austerity measures it will continue to weigh on domestic demand in 2013. The Fund sees the Bosnian economy expanding by a moderate 0.5% this year after contracting by an estimated 0.7% in 2012.
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