Jobless down 0.3 per cent

Unemployment dropped by 570, or 0.3 per cent, in the last quarter of 2003, according to the Labour Force Survey, the results of which were published by the National Statistics Office yesterday.

The unemployment rate for the December quarter stood at 7.9 per cent. In absolute terms the total number of unemployed persons was estimated to be 12,596 persons of whom 67.5 per cent were males.

The corresponding unemployment rate in the September quarter stood at 8.2 per cent bringing the number of unemployed to 13,166.

Out of the unemployed recorded in the December quarter, 5,669, or 45 per cent, were aged between 15 and 24. The mean age of unemployed males was 32 years, whereas that of females worked out at 27 years.

In terms of the duration of unemployment, it was observed that the majority, or 49.3 per cent, of the unemployed have been seeking employment for more than a year. Additionally, there were 3,916 persons, or 31.1 per cent, who have been seeking employment for under five months.

The LFS is an enquiry which is carried out on a quarterly basis, using a random sample of 2,500 private households.

During December 2003, the number of employed persons reached 147,042 persons.

Of these, the majority, or 25.1 per cent, were aged between 25 and 34. The mean age of employed males was 39 years, whereas that of females worked out at 34 years.

Among the total number of persons with a main occupation, 91 per cent worked on a full-time basis. On the other hand, about 11,000 persons were estimated to work on part-time basis. Of these, 7,700, or 70.4 per cent, were females.