Full-timers up by over 3,000

The full-time gainfully occupied population in January rose by 3,295 persons while unemployment dropped by 845 persons when compared to January 2007, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

In the month under review, the labour supply went up by 2,450 persons over the same month last year.

Thus, the labour supply amounted to 149,899 persons. The full-time gainfully occupied population amounted to 143,436 persons, while the registered unemployed amounted to 6,463 persons.

In the 12 months to January, the economic activities that registered the main growth in full-time employment were real estate, renting and business activities, other community, social and personal service activities and hotels and restaurants.

The real estate sector, renting and business activities had 1,359 persons more on its books. Among other activities, this sector includes accounting and auditing, security services and call centres.

The sector of other community, social and personal service activities saw an increase of 869 persons.

Besides other activities, this sector includes betting companies. Once again, hotels and restaurants reported an increase of 564 persons.

On the downside, the number of the gainfully occupied persons fell in manufacturing and electricity, gas and water supply. In fact, manufacturing shed 982 persons, while the electricity, gas and water supply sector dropped 136 persons.

On a year-on-year basis, the number of self-employed persons went up by 228 to reach 16,810 persons. The main economic activities in which the self-employed persons operate are wholesale and retail trade and construction.

In the 12 months to January, part-time employment rose by 2,919. There were another 1,007 persons among part-timers who hold a full-time job. Those having a part-time job as their primary occupation went up by 1,912 persons.