26 March, Minsk /BELTA correspondent/. According to operational data, 4,560.6 thousand people were employed in the economy of Belarus in January-February of the current year. This is 2.3% less than in January-February 2011, the National Statistical Committee informed a BELTA correspondent. In January-February of this year, organizations of the republic (excluding small businesses of non-state ownership) hired 110.3 thousand people, including 7.1 thousand people for newly created jobs. Over two months, 117.4 thousand people were dismissed for various reasons, of which 7% were for absenteeism and other labor discipline violations, and 1.3% were due to staff or workforce reductions, or liquidation of organizations. The number of unemployed registered with the labor, employment, and social protection authorities at the end of February 2012 was 31.5 thousand people, which is 7.6% less than at the end of February 2011, and 2.9% more than at the end of January 2012. The registered unemployment rate at the end of February of the current year, as well as at the end of February 2011, was 0.7% of the economically active population.-0-

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