Georgia's unemployment rate grew by 2.5% in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the same time the previous year, reaching 19.5%, according to the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).

The unemployment rate in urban regions climbed by 1.9%, while it increased by 3.5% in rural areas.

The economic activity rate, or the percentage of the country's population that is able and willing to work regardless of their employment situation, has climbed by 2.5% year over year to 52.8% of the working-age population (population aged 15 and older).

"The labour force participation rate (economic activity rate) in urban settlements climbed by 2.2%, while it increased by 2.8% in rural settlements," according to Geostat.

The country's overall employment rate climbed by 0.7% to 42.5%. It increased by 0.8% in urban areas, while it increased by 0.7% in rural areas.

According to Geostat, men have historically had a greater unemployment rate than women.

"This statistic climbed by 2.1% for women in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the same time the previous year, while it increased by 2.9% for males," according to Geostat.

Men, on the other hand, have a greater rate of economic activity than women.

The economic activity rate in the reporting period for women amounted to 42.4%, while for men it reached 64.7%; the labour force participation rate increased both for women and men by 2.2% and 2.8% year-on-year.