The full-time gainfull occupied population grew by 4.6 per cent in September while part-time employment as a primary job increased by 5.4 per cent when
compared to the corresponding month of the previous year, official figures issued today show.

Over a period of one year, the labour supply (excluding part-timers) increased by 3.5 per cent, reaching 185,259.

This was mainly attributed to an increase in the full-time gainfully occupied population (7,928) and a drop in registered unemployment (1,717) 

In September 2016, Arts, entertainment and recreation and Administrative and support service activities contributed mostly to the increase in employment, compared to September 2015.

Registered full-time employment in the private sector went up by 7,549 persons to 137,262. Public sector full-time employment increased by 379 persons to 44,790.

The number of persons registered as full-time self-employed rose by 428 when compared to September 2015, while the number of persons registered as employees increased by 7,500 persons.

Full-time employment for men and women went up by 3.4 per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively over 2015 levels.

Registered part-time employment in September 2016 went up by 5.6 per cent when compared to a year earlier. The sectors that contributed most to the overall increase were wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, accommodation and food service activities and transportation and storage.

The number of part-timers who also held a full-time job amounted to 24,370 up by 5.8 per cent (+1,332 persons) when compared to the corresponding month in 2015. Employed persons whose part-time job was their primary occupation totalled 36,304 up by 5.4 per cent (+1,870 persons) when compared to 2015.