Women make significant change in average employment

There was a statistically significant change in average employment in the fourth quarter last year when the total number of people employed reached 155,868, the National Statistics Office said yesterday, saying this was mainly due to an increase in the female participation rate.

The level of unemployment remained unchanged, at 10,291 persons, compared to the same period in 2006. The total inactive reached 162,573 persons, or 49.5 per cent of those aged 15 years and over. The activity rate stood at 59.4 per cent. The activity rate for males was 77.9 per cent and that of females stood at 40.5 per cent, leaving an activity gender gap of 37.4 per cent.

For the fourth quarter of 2007, the employment rate was estimated at 55.7 per cent.

The majority of employed persons were aged between 25 and 34. The majority, or 16.3 per cent, worked as service workers and shop assistants, and a further 14.6 per cent worked as technicians and associate professionals.

Among employed males, the most common occupations were trade-related while the majority of females were estimated to be working as service workers and shop assistants.

The rise in employment was reflected in a statistically significant increase in the number of employees.

The average gross annual salary of employees was estimated at Lm5,616 per annum, equivalent to €13,085.

For the fourth quarter of 2007, the number of full-timers amounted to 138,520, 71.8 per cent of whom were males and 28.2 per cent being females. A further 9.4 per cent, or 14,694, were engaged in part-time employment. Of all those doing part-time jobs, 27.3 per cent were males and 72.7 per cent were females.

For the last three months of 2007, the total number of unemployed persons was estimated at 10,291 persons, which indicates no significant changes during the survey period when compared to 2006 estimates.

Out of every 100 persons in the labour force, 6.2 were unemployed. The male unemployment rate stood at 5.8 per cent and the rate for females was seven per cent.

Among the total number of unemployed in October to December 2007, 47.3 per cent had been looking for a job for less than six months and a further 43.1 per cent had been looking for a job for more than a year.