The government adopted an active employment policy scheme on Thursday, allocating EUR 150m in funds for the envisaged measures in 2008 and 2009.
Commenting on the document after the cabinet session, Labour Minister Marjetna Cotman underscored that Slovenia currently had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the EU.
The labour survey unemployment rate for Slovenia is at 4.7%, while the EU average is at 7.1%.
The Employment Institute registered 64,295 unemployed persons at the end of March, which is down 4% on February and down 13.4% on March 2007.
The minister ascribed the decline to high economic growth and the government's active employment policy.
On the down side, she pointed to the problem of structural unemployment, noting that the Ministry of Labour, the Family and Social Affairs would put more funds into training and education, so that the unemployed would get more skills and expertise.
On the other hand, the minister was upbeat about the decline in the numbers of long-term unemployed, young people and those looking for their first job. The number of older people who lost their jobs increased though.
The programme of the implementation of active employment policy measures for 2008-2009 has been adjusted to the state budget and the operative human resources development plan.
It envisages four measures: counseling and assistance in search for a job; training and education; incentives for employers and self-employment; and measures to increase social inclusion.
The measures will be funded from the national budget and the European Social Fund, in the total amount of EUR 150m (EUR 74m for 2008 and EUR 76m for 2009).
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