In the fourth quarter of 2020, number of the employed amounted to 2 920 900, and number of the unemployed to 321 000. Employment rate for the mentioned period amounted to 49.7%, while unemployment rate, in the same period, had the value of 9.9%.

According to the LFS data for the fourth quarter 2020, relative to the fourth quarter 2019, employment rate remained unchanged, while unemployment rate was slightly increased, by 0.2 percentage points (p. p.). Inter-annual decrease of the number of the employed amounted to 17 400, while inter-annual increase of the number of the unemployed amounted to 6 900. Simultaneously, number of population aged 15 and over was decreased by 30 200, and the contingent of inactive population decreased by 19 800.

According to the LFS data for the fourth quarter 2020, regarding the population aged 15 and over, decreased employment (-15 700) and inactivity (-20 900) were noted, while unemployment increased (+29 000), if compared with the third quarter 2020. Observed on quarterly level, employment and inactivity rates were decreased by 0.2 and 0.3 p. p., respectively, reaching the level of 49.7%, i.e. 44.9% in the fourth quarter 2020. At the same time, unemployment rate increased by 0.9 p. p. and reached the level of 9.9%. 

Additional indicators recommended by European Statistical Organization – Eurostat, can better show latest developments on the labour market distressed by the pandemic. These additional indicators refer to the total labour market slack, absence from work, work from home and hours worked.

Labour market slack represents the participation of 1) the unemployed, 2) employees who work less than full time and would like to work more, 3) those who are looking for a job but cannot work and 4) those who can work but do not look for job; in an extended labour force, where the extended labour force includes employed and unemployed persons together with potential labour force (those who can work but do not look for job and those who are looking for a job but cannot start working immediately).

Labour market slack in the fourth quarter of 2020 amounted to 19.0% and, compared to the same period of last year, declined by 0.6 p. p. while compared to the third quarter of 2020, it is higher by 0.3 p. p., suggesting that in the labour market, the so-called unmet need for employment returned to pre-COVID level.

Absence from work is determined by the participation of employed who are absent from work in the total number of employed. In the fourth quarter of 2020, 4.6% of employed were absent from work, which is by 1.6 p. p. less than in the third quarter of 2020, and by 0.1 p. p. more relative to the same period last year.

Work from home, measured by the share of employed who worked from home in total number of employed. Work from home in the fourth quarter of 2020 reached the value of 9.2%, which is the decrease of 0.1 percentage points relative to the third quarter of 2020 and increase of 0.5 p. p. compared to the same period of last year.

The average weekly hours worked on the main job, per an employee, in the fourth quarter of 2020 amounted to 39.5 and had fallen by 1,1%, compared to the third quarter of 2020. The average weekly hours worked on the main job, per an employed, in the fourth quarter of 2020 had fallen by 1.5% relative to the fourth quarter of 2019 when they amounted to 40.1.