Lower unemployment in July

The full-time gainfully occupied population in July increased by 3,574 while unemployment decreased by 374 when compared to the same month last year, according to labour market data provided by the Employment and Training Corporation.

The National Statistics Office said that in the month under review, the labour supply increased by 3,200 over the corresponding month in 2007. The full-time gainfully occupied population increased by 3,574, whereas the registered unemployed decreased by 374. The labour supply amounted to 152,075. Of these, the full-time gainfully occupied population amounted to 146,117, while the registered unemployed amounted to 5,958.

On a year-on-year basis, the full-time gainfully occupied population in the public sector decreased by 495. On the other hand, the full-time gainfully occupied population in the private sector increased by 4,069.

The main areas of the public sector which have shed jobs in the 12 months to July were transport, storage and communication (-548), construction (-196), and electricity, gas and water supply (-118).

In contrast, the main increase in the number of full-time gainfully occupied population within the public sector occurred in health and social work.

In the 12 months to July, full-time employment increased by 3,179 in Malta and by 395 in Gozo.