ZAGREB, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The total registered unemployment rate in Croatia dropped to a record low of 8.6 percent in July, the lowest level in 18 years, the Croatian Bureau of Statistics announced on Wednesday.

The rate decreased by 1.6 percent compared to June, while the total number of employed people increased by 1.1 percent. The unemployment rate in July was the lowest since January 2000 when the country's statistical office started reporting the indicator.

According to the same report, the average net monthly salary in June was 6,276 kuna (979 U.S. dollars), down 1.2 percent from May. The highest average monthly salary was in the crude oil and natural gas extraction sector at 11,241 kuna (1,730 U.S. dollars), while the lowest in the personal services sector at 4,027 kuna. (1 U.S. dollar=6.41 Croatian kuna)