TEHRAN -- The general manager for social affairs of East Azerbaijan Province has announced that 55,000 unemployed people have registered to receive self-employment loans over the past 11 months.

Masoud Zhaleh-Rajabi said at the Provincial Development and Planning Council that this figure represents the highest number of unemployed people ever registering to receive facilities.

He said that Rls.160 billion of credit has been allocated for self-employment loans, which can only meet the needs of 5,000 individuals.

He added that with a 92.98 percent employment rate over the past year, the province ranked first in job creation in the country.