There was an increase in employment in the first quarter this year, when compared to the same period last year, according to the Labour Force Survey

The NSO said that in the first quarter this year there were 164,377 employees (47 per cent), 12,758 (4 per cent) unemployed, and 175,154 (50 per cent), inactive.

Of those in the 15-64 age bracket, 60 per cent were active, (either working or unemployed). The highest activity rates among men and women were recorded in the 25-54 age group. An increase of over two percentage points was recorded in the activity rate among women, whereas rates for males registered minor changes.

The employment rate for the first quarter of 2010 was estimated at 55 per cent, with the highest rates being recorded among persons aged between 25 and 54. The increase in the total employment rate was mainly attributed to the female component. This increase also explains the upward shift recorded in activity rates.

The majority of employed men were engaged in the wholesale and retail trade, repairs sector, (18 per cent), followed by 17 per cent in manufacturing activities. Similarly, most of the female employed population worked in wholesale and retail trade, repairs sector (16 per cent), and education-related activities (16 per cent).

Employed persons were mostly working in service-oriented jobs. This category includes occupations such as hairdressers, waiters and salespersons. Clerical occupations were pre-dominant among female workers, whereas men were mostly engaged in craft-related jobs.

The majority of employed people (87 per cent) were working on a full-time basis, while an estimated 21,000 were engaged in part-time jobs or full-time with reduced hours. Employees on a full-time basis dropped by over two percentage points when compared to last year.

In terms of professional status, self-employed persons accounted for nearly 15 per cent of the total work force.

The average gross annual salary of employees was estimated at €14,565. This refers to the basic salary and excludes extra payments such as overtime, bonuses and allowances. On a sectoral basis, the highest average gross annual salary was recorded in financial intermediation.

The highest average salary for employees by main occupation was for legislators, senior officials and managerial occupations, reflecting observed trends.

The majority of unemployed persons were aged between 15 and 24, followed by those in the 25-34 age group. Within the unemployed population, 46 per cent stated that they had been seeking work for 12 months or more.

The unemployment rate for the period under review stood at 7.2 per cent.