March unemployment down

The number of registered unemployed in March this year declined by 143 persons to 7,564 when compared to the previous month, the National Statistics Office said.

The unemployment rate was 5.2 per cent.

In comparison to March 2002, the number of registered unemployed dropped by 161 persons, the NSO said.

The NSO said that in March this year, administrative records of the Employment and Training Corporation indicated a decrease of 110 persons in the labour supply over the previous month.

However, a comparison of the figures for March 2003 with those for the same month in 2002, shows that the labour supply grew by 596 persons.

Hence, the labour supply in March 2003 stood at 145,183 persons.

In March 2003, the full-time gainfully occupied population increased by 33 persons over the previous month.

Overall, the NSO added, a growth of 757 persons in full-time employment was registered in the 12 months up to March 2003.