In the twelve months to March, both the full-time gainfully occupied population
and the registered unemployed increased, the NSO said today.

Quoting data provided by the Employment and Training Corporation, the NSO said that the gainfully occupied increased by 2,453, or 1.7 per cent. The registered unemployed went up by 304 to 6,966. Consequently, the labour supply
rose by 2,757 persons, or 1.8 per cent over the corresponding month last year.

The arts, entertainment and recreation sector registered the main increases in full-time employment. The number of persons employed in construction and manufacturing decreased when compared to March 2011.

Persons engaged in the private sector increased by 2,261 or 2.1 per cent, while the public sector added 192 persons, or 0.5 per cent.

Women employed on a full-time basis increased by 2,211 or 4.5 per cent, while the number of men edged up by 242, or 0.2 per cent. The increase in women's employment was mainly recorded in health and social work and education, while the rise in male employment was primarily registered in transportation and storage and the arts, entertainment and recreation sector.

Part-Time Employment

When compared to the previous year, part-time employment in March 2012 increased by 3,014, or 6.0 per cent. Persons whose part-time job was their primary occupation increased by 2,057, or 7.3 per cent, while persons who had a full-time job in addition to their part-time job increased by 957, or 4.3 per cent.

Women having a part-time job went up by 1,717, while men with a part-time job increased by 1,297. Much of the increase in part-time employment took place in the accommodation and food service sector, followed by wholesale and retail trade activites.