Full-time employment last October increased by 1.6 per cent when compared to the corresponding period in 2010, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

It said that according to administrative data provided by the Employment and Training Corporation, the gainfully occupied population grew by 2,370 while the registered unemployed decreased by 158. This was reflected in an increase in the labour supply, up to 156,005.

When compared to a year earlier, part-time employment last October went up by 4.3 per cent to 53,456. Part-timers who also had a primary job amounted to 43.5 per cent of total part-time employment. The highest fraction of part-timers who fell within this category were males.

The highest increase was recorded in the health and social work sector, which grew by 7.5 per cent or 810 people.

During the period under review, real estate, renting and business activities also recorded an increase in employment of 3.1 per cent, or 499 people. In contrast, construction and the wholesale and retail trade sector showed declines of 77 and 61 people respectively when compared to October 2010.