Unemployment in April rose by 396 while the number of people employed full time dropped by 731, comparing the situation to last year.

The National Statistics Office said that the fulltime gainfully-occupied population in April amounted to 144,576, while the registered unemployed numbered 7,606.

Accordingly, the labour supply stood at 152,182.

The number of people employed on a full-time basis declined within both the private and public sectors when compared to the previous year. There were 377 less people employed in the private sector and a further 354 less people in the public sector.

The major declines in full-time employment within the private sector occurred in construction and hotels and restaurants. On the other hand, main drops in full-timers within the public sector took place in manufacturing and public administration.

In the 12 months to April, the increases in full-time employment within the public sector took place in transport, storage and communication and in the education sector.

Among the full-time employed population working in the private sector, increases in employment were registered in the real estate, renting and business activities sector and in other community, social and personal service activities.

Between April last year and the same month this year, employment in Malta dropped by 0.5 per cent.

The main economic activities which contributed to this drop were manufacturing (-785) and construction (-571).

Over the corresponding period, employment in Gozo increased by 0.1 per cent. The main increases were recorded in manufacturing activities (+64) and transport, storage and communication (+29).

In the 12 months to April, total part-time employment rose by 2,173. Part-timers also holding a full-time job increased by 3.6 per cent, while part-timers whose job is their primary occupation went up by 5.3 per cent.

The main increase in part-time employment took place in hotels and restaurants and wholesale and retail trade.