2021-07-20
National Audit Office provides fourth updated COVID-19 Consequence Management factsheet
National Audit Office auditors continue to collect and analyse data on the implementation of measures adopted by the Government to support liquidity of enterprises and promote the economy affected by the pandemic, and provide already the fourth COVID-19 Consequence Management factsheet.
It is noted that, compared to the beginning of 2020, 47.5 % fewer bankruptcies were recorded in the first quarter of this year. The largest number of bankruptcy proceedings started in the wholesale and retail trade (19.7 %) and construction (15.9 %) sectors. The low number of bankruptcies is partly a positive indicator, but it is worrying that state aid in millions is granted to companies on the verge of bankruptcy. Over the past three months, 181 companies have been the subject of bankruptcy proceedings, of which 95 companies received EUR 14 million of state aid in 2020, most of which – EUR 12.6 million – consisted of tax deferrals.
Registered unemployment in the country decreases for the fourth consecutive month. Compared to the beginning of the year, it is lower by 2.3 %, reaching 6.8 % in May. Of the 239.5 thousand registered unemployed, 42 %, i.e., more than 100 000, are long-term unemployed. Part of them - 26 thousand - have not worked for two years or more before registration in the Employment Service. The number of long-term unemployed is the highest in the last decade and 2.6 times higher than it was a year ago. Such growth can be driven by a number of factors: low or no qualifications, mismatches between labour supply and demand in regions, low mobility of the population and job search allowance paid since June 2020.
The National Audit Office, by providing periodic factsheets on COVID-19 consequences management during the pandemic, calls for continuous monitoring of measures to manage the consequences of the pandemic, an assessment of their implementation and risks and, in this context, adjusting the measures taken to maximise their benefits for society and the state.
More detailed statistical information is provided in infographic.
