KIEV, Jan. 17 - The number of officially registered unemployed in Ukraine in late December 2010 totaled 2% of the able-bodied population, the State Statistics Committee reported.

In November 2010, the level of jobless was 1.6%, in October it was 1.4%, and in September -1.5%.

According to the committee, a total of 544,900 unemployed people were registered in late December 2010, which is 21.2% more compared to the previous month (449,700 unemployed in November, 400,700 on October, and 408,100 in September), of whom 296,000 were women. Of the unemployed, 308,800 people lived in rural areas, while 236,100 lived in cities and towns.