Unemployment down to 6.5 pct

Unemployment dropped by 0.7 percentage points to 6.5 percent in the first quarter in Lithuania year-on-year, the latest figures from the country's statistics office, Statics Lithuania, showed on Friday.

Over a quarter, the unemployment rate inched up by 0.5 percent. Unemployment among men stood at 7 percent in the first three months of this year, and was 6 percent among women.

95,100 people were unemployed in Lithuania in the first quarter and the number rose by 7,700 (8.8 percent) over the quarter and went down by 8,800 (8.5 percent) over a year.

Youth (15-24 years) unemployment stood at 12.5 percent and it rose by 1.4 percentage points over a quarter and went down by 1.4 percentage points over a year.