OSLO, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Norway saw the number of completely unemployed people increase by 600 during July, online newspaper E24 reported Friday.
Gross unemployment, which also includes job seekers participating in labour market initiatives, increased by 1,200 people in the same month, Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration (NAV) stated in a press release.
"Unemployment has increased somewhat in July, but in general there have been only minor changes in the number of unemployed in the last three months. So far this year, the number of the unemployed has decreased by 2,800 people," Sigrun Vageng, NAV director, said in the statement.
Unemployment rate was at 2.3 percent in July, which is an increase from 2.2 percent in the previous month, the report said.
"Slightly surprising increase of unemployment in July. However, this straightens out the fall from June, showing a more sideways trend over the last couple of months," bank Handelsbanken wrote on Twitter.
According to NAV, a total of 66,300 completely unemployed persons were registered in July, a decline of 7,500 people compared to the same period last year.
