Unemployment in Poland is seen rising, but by slightly less than was earlier projected. The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy said that in February, the registered unemployment rate was 14.4 percent, up by 0.2 percentage points since January. The estimate is based on data from labor offices. The Ministry also said that there were 2,337,400 unemployed persons registered at the offices at the end of February.

Deputy Labor Minister Jacek Męcina said that unemployment growth was lower than the ministry's estimates partly due to the ministry's intervention in the labor market. He added that the ministry would withhold its year-end unemployment rate projection until it receives data for June this year.

The 2013 budget, which was adopted in January, forecast unemployment at 13 percent in December 2013. The sharpest increase in the number of jobless Poles is expected at the end of Q1 and beginning of Q2 this year, according to Deputy PM and Miniser of Economy Janusz Piechociński.

Poland A.M.