Fewer full-time jobs but more part-timers

There was a slight dip in average full-time employment in 2009 compared to the year before but a significant rise in the number of part-timers, according to the latest figures issued by the National Statistics Office.

The average full-time employment for the 12 months stood at 144,776 when part-timers amounted to 48,967, the NSO said, basing itself on revised monthly figures of the gainfully-occupied provided by the Employment and Training Corporation. That meant there were 677, or 0.5 per cent, fewer full-timers and 2,357, or 5.1 per cent, more part-timers.

Full-time jobs in manufacturing activities dropped by 1,810, or 7.9 per cent, and by 420, or 4.1 per cent, in hotels and restaurants.

On the other hand, "other business activities", which includes legal activities, accounting, book-keeping, and auditing activities, tax consultancy, business and management consultancy, among others, saw an increase in full-time employment of 913 people, or 8.9 per cent.

Construction and wholesale and retail trade also registered an increase in the number of full-timers.

These were up by 352, or 2.9 per cent, and 212, or one per cent, respectively between 2008 and 2009. Wholesale and retail trade and education accounted for the large part of new part-time jobs.

Between December 2008 and December 2009, the number of registered unemployed individuals rose by 18.2 per cent and the labour supply increased by 450, or 0.3 per cent.