Full-time employment in manufacturing, construction and hotels and restaurants fell as a result of a shift to part-time work between March 2009 and March this year.

The National Statistics Office said full-time employment dropped by 913, or 0.9 per cent, in the private sector and 196, or 0.5 per cent, in the public service. There was a drop of 869 in manufacturing, 592 in construction and 533 in hotels and restaurants.

On the other hand, full-time jobs in real estate, renting and business activities rose by 734, education by 223 and health and social work by 211. But the biggest rise was seen in part-time jobs, up by 2,191, or 4.6 per cent, of whom 772, or 3.7 per cent, held a full-time job too. Those whose part-time job was their primary occupation rose by 1,419, or 5.4 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Employment and Training Corporation said more people had found a job by registering with it in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2009.

The ETC said those who found employment rose by 300, or 19 per cent, to 1,874 as the number of vacancies received increased by 843, or 23 per cent, to 4,498.

Redundancies fell by 397, or 28 per cent, to 1,004.