ATHENS — Greek authorities on Thursday reported a decline in unemployment and a decline in employment, along with a significant increase in the non-active population in March, the first month of the lockdown because of the pandemic.

Hellenic Statistical Authority, in a monthly report, said that the unemployment rate fell to 14.4 pct of the workforce in March, from 18.1 pct in March 2019 and 15.9 pct in February 2020. The number of unemployed people totaled 653,686, down 203,288 from March last year (a decline of 23.7 pct) and down 79,397 compared with February 2020 (a decline of 10.8 pct). The number of employed people was 3,874,437, down 12,923 (0.3 pct) compared with March 2019 and down 10,263 (0.3 pct) compared with February 2020.

The size of non-active population (out of work and not seeking a job) totaled 3,373,369, up 173,254 compared with March 2019 (5.4 pct) and up 87,150 (2.7 pct) compared with February 2020. The unemployment rate among women was 16.8 pct in March (from 22.6 pct in March last year), while among men it was 12.6 pct from 14.4 pct, respectively.

The 15-24 age group recorded the highest unemployment rate (32.4 pct in March from 37.7 pct in March 2019), followed by the 25-34 age group (19.8 pct from 24.1 pct), the 35-44 age group (14.1 pct from 16.1 pct), the 45-54 age group (12 pct from 14.6 pct), the 55-64 age group (11.7 pct from 13.9 pct) and the 65-74 age group (7.4 pct from 11.6 pct).

Among the country's regions, Macedonia-Thrace recorded the highest unemployment rate (18.5 pct in March from 19 pct in March 2019), followed by Thessaly-Central Greece (16.4 pct from 18 pct), Epirus-Western Macedonia (14.7 pct from 20.9 pct), Peloponnese-Western Greece-Ionian Islands (14 pct from 18.9 pct), Attica (13.9 pct from 18 pct), Crete (12 pct from 12.2 pcft) and Aegean (9.4 pct from 17.3 pct).