Dante Contreras, director of the university's economic department, says that the slight annual decline reflects the low rate of growth of the economy. He finds some comfort, though, in the fact that 59,900 jobs were created in the 12-month period, and predicts that the next two surveys (in September and December) will show the unemployment rate falling more markedly.
Santiago has 360,000 unemployed in a population of 15m (40% of the national total). According to the university's report, a household with unemployed members has an average disposable monthly income of Ch$153,000 (US$219), as against Ch$515,000 (US$736) in households with no unemployed.
The US House of Representatives last week gave its approval to the bilateral free-trade agreement between the US and Chile, passing the measure by 270 votes to 156. The bill has now moved on to the Senate for its approval, possibly as early as this week.
The free-trade deal will abolish over 85% of the tariffs currently in place on trade between the two countries. Within 12 years it is hoped that there will be no tariffs whatsoever on exports between the US and Chile.
The US is Chile's largest trade partner, with bilateral trade in 2001 of US$8.8bn.
The Chilean accord, and the one with Singapore, approved the same day, are the first negotiated by the Bush administration since it obtained from Congress last year 'trade promotion' authority (previously known as fast-track), which allows the executive to submit trade agreements to Congress for a blanket vote, without amendments.
End of preview - This article contains approximately 316 words.
Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article
Not a Subscriber?
Choose from one of the following options
