More jobs for Chilean workers.

Chile's economic recovery is now having a positive impact on the employment situation in the country. A news release from the National Statistics Institute (INE) says that for the 2005 quarter March through May, the unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent. The dip was more pronounced than the 8.7 percent expected by local economists.

The number of jobs created was also impressive. In all, 239,490 jobs were created, the highest in 12 years, according to INE.

The new jobs were distributed almost evenly between men and women - 50.8 percent of the jobs will filled by men and 49.2 percent were filled by women. The highest category of jobs were in Community and Social Service, 31.4 percent, followed by retailing, 24.3 percent, and construction at 18.1 percent.

One of the institute's economists said that there may have been a certain amount of pent up demand for workers. He noted that last year job creation was at one of the lowest levels in recent years.

Another economist, from Santiago University, said that job growth over the past 12 months was 4.3 percent, a rate that was higher than expected. He noted also the current crop of new jobs were better paying and of better quality.