Number of full-timers up by nearly 3,000

The full-time gainfully occupied population increased by 2,907 persons while unemployment fell by 865 in March compared to the same month last year, said the National Statistics Office (NSO) yesterday.

As a result, the labour supply amounted to 149,644 persons, of which the full-time gainfully occupied population amounted to 143,476 persons while the registered unemployed amounted to 6,168 persons. In the 12 months to March, the economic activities which registered the main growth in full-time employment were real estate, renting and business activities, other community, social and personal service activities and health and social work.

On the other hand, the number of gainfully occupied persons fell in manufacturing and electricity and in gas and water supply. Manufacturing alone saw a drop of 999 persons.

Part-time employment rose by 2,608 to reach 46,553. Among part-timers who also hold a full-time job, there was an increase of 944 persons. Those having a part-time job as their primary occupation went up by 1,664 persons. The number of self-employed persons increased by 218, reaching 16,878 persons. The main economic activities in which the self-employed operate are wholesale and retail trade and construction.