Hungary's unemployment rate rose to 6.9 percent at the end of February, official figures showed Wednesday

Hungary's unemployment rate rose to 6.9 percent at the end of February, official figures showed Wednesday. The jobless rate rose from 6.6 percent in January and represents more bad news for the unpopular Socialist led government. Although Hungary's jobless rate is low by regional standards the country continues to be plagued by large scale, long-term unemployment. Long-term unemployment, defined as joblessness lasting for a year or more, represented 44 percent of the total. The average duration of unemployment in Hungary is 16 months. Hungary also has a very low rate of labor participation as a proportion of the working-age population. The proportion of people of working age who were employed was just 50.2 percent compared with 50.5 percent at the end of February last year.