Egypt expects unemployment rate to decrease

The Egyptian Ministry of Planning expected a decrease in the Egyptian unemployment rate to 7.9% in 1998, down from 8.3% last year.

The ministry's estimates said that the labor force will increase in the current year by about 18.3 million persons, 15.5 million males and 2.8 million females, in comparison to 17.8 million in 1997, 15.2 million males and 2.6 million females.

An official source said that the size of the labor force in comparison to the number of inhabitants would decrease from 29.3% in 1997 to 23.5% in 1998.

The sources said the employment policies being carried out this year aim at linking education to environment and supporting vocational, administrative and researching training.