Rise in unemployment but more are gainfully occupied

The gainfully occupied population in March went up by 529 full-timers and 1,536 part-timers when compared to the corresponding month last year, the National Statistics Office said.

It said that the labour supply in March increased by 1,444 over 12 months with the total of the gainfully occupied going up by 529 and unemployment rising by 915.

The principal economic activities registering an increase in employment were real estate, renting and business activities and construction. The latter shift was essentially due to a re-classification of employment in the public sector between agriculture, hunting and related service activities and construction.

Sectors registering drops in employment included manufacturing, and hotels and restaurants.However, some manufacturing sub-sectors increased their employment levels – these included: manufacture of chemicals and chemical products, and publishing, printing and reproduction of recorded media.

Total part-time employment rose by 2,732 when compared to the revised figures in respect of March 2008. This increase comprised 1,196 people whose part-time job was their secondary occupation and 1,536 persons whose part-time activity was their primary job.