Charts of the Week
Charts of the week from 1 to 5 December 2025: unemployment, exports and imports of goods
The number of unemployed persons declined slightly in November, yet on a year-on-year basis it remained somewhat higher owing to increases recorded in previous months. The number of long-term unemployed and older unemployed persons continued to be lower than a year earlier, while the number of unemployed young persons was nearly one tenth higher. Exports and imports decreased month-on-month in October. In the first nine months, exports were lower year-on-year, while imports increased. Persistently weak export orders in manufacturing do not indicate a faster recovery of exports in the coming months.
Unemployment, November 2025
The number of registered unemployed persons decreased slightly in November on a monthly basis (–0.2%, seasonally adjusted) after rising over the preceding four months, while remaining slightly higher year-on-year (0.2%). The increase in the preceding months can be associated with the larger inflow of foreign nationals with temporary protection status into the unemployment register since July this year, which in November no longer made a significant contribution to the inflow into unemployment. The year-on-year decline in the long-term unemployed (–6.9%) and in unemployed persons aged over 50 (–7.6%) was similar to previous months. The number of unemployed young persons (15–29 years) has been exceeding last year’s levels since the end of last year (in November it was 9.3% higher year-on-year).
Exports and imports of goods, October 2025
Real exports and imports of goods decreased month-on-month in October, while in the first ten months exports were slightly lower and imports somewhat higher than in the same period last year. Goods exports decreased month-on-month for the third consecutive month (–0.2%, seasonally adjusted), particularly to EU countries (Germany, Italy, Austria, France), while exports to non-EU markets increased. Exports of metals and metal products declined markedly again, and exports of machinery and equipment also edged down, with the exception of road vehicles. By contrast, exports of pharmaceutical products and other chemical products strengthened. Imports increased for the second consecutive month (3.1%, seasonally adjusted). Imports of intermediate goods rose, although they have exhibited pronounced volatility in recent months. Imports of consumer goods and of capital goods were lower month-on-month. In the first ten months, total goods exports remained roughly unchanged year-on-year (–0.1%), while imports were 0.7% higher.
Export orders in manufacturing, similarly to the past two years, remained at a very low level in November. Given the continued uncertain economic conditions in Slovenia’s main trading partners and subdued foreign demand growth, this does not indicate a faster recovery of exports in the coming months.