Poland's registered unemployment rate rose to 14.2% at the end of January from 13.4% at the end of December 2012, the latest estimates by the Labor Ministry show.

The number of unemployed at the end of January amounted to 2.296 million, up by 159,200 from end-December, the ministry's statement showed.

While the unemployment rate always increases in January on absence of seasonal jobs, this time the number of unemployed rose also on account of re-registrations of persons who participated in active forms of fighting unemployment and those whose term contracts expired at the end of 2012, the Ministry wrote.

The unemployment rate edged up in all of Poland's regions.
The number of vacancies posted in job agencies measured 63,300, up by 27, 600 from December 2012, the ministry said.

Polish Labor Ministry officials previously said the jobless rate might temporarily exceed 14%, with January causing the gravest concerns, but a rebound on the labor market was expected in March-April.