Kazakhstan, Astana, Feb. 13 / Trend , K.Konirova/
In late 2008, the unemployment rate increased in Kazakhstan, the Kazakhstan Statistics Agency told Trend .
"According to a survey, unemployment hit 6.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008, a 3.5-percent rise from the previous quarter," the office said.
As of late December 2008, 48,400 people were officially registered as unemployed at the Labor and Social Protection Ministry employment agencies.
In January 2009, unemployment hit 6.9 percent, the office said.
"It is necessary to keep track of hidden unemployment to estimate overall unemployment on the backdrop of a decline in production and part-time employment in the labor market. Hidden unemployment hit 1.7 percent of the economically active population in January 2009," the office said.