RA unemployment rate is 18.9% in the second quarter of 2012

The developments of labor market in the first half of 2012, on the whole, have been in line with the pace of the economy, as a result of which no remarkable imbalance has been observed in the labor market.
According to the RA Central Bank's estimates, in the 2nd quarter of 2012, the average nominal salary has increased by 6.2%, reflecting the increase in salaries in private sector and a moderate increase in salaries of certain organizations financed by the budget, in case of which the real increase in salaries amounted to 5.2%.
The continuous increase of productivity in the branches of industry and services and, along with the growth in economy, the increase in the demand for labor have had a substantial impact on the increase in nominal salaries in the private sector.
In the 2nd quarter of 2012, the average quarterly level of unemployment, in conditions of rising labor demand, compared to the same period of the previous year, has been reduced by 2%, amounting to 18.9%.
In conditions of the mentioned developments of Labor market, no remarkable imbalance have been noticed, in particular, the increase in real salary has been in line with the increase in productivity. Therefore, it can be stated that in the 2nd quarter of 2012, the impact of labor market on inflation has been neutral.