Full-time employment in October increased by 3.2 per cent when compared to the corresponding month last year.

The National Statistics Office said that Employment and Training Corporation administrative records showed that over the year ending in October, the labour supply increased by 3.4 per cent, reaching 164,792.

This was mainly attributed to increases in the full-time gainfully occupied population of 4,859 persons and in registered unemployment of 581.

Within the public sector, a shift in employment was registered from construction to public administration and defence.

Increases in full-time employment within the private sector were recorded in administrative and support service activities and in professional, scientific and technical activities.

The number of full-time self-employed rose by 243 when compared to the same month the previous year.

During the same period, the number of employees increased by 4,616. Male and female full-time employment went up by 1.6 per cent and 6.1 per cent respectively over 2012.

Registered part-time employment for the month under review went up by 4.6 per cent when compared to 2012 levels.

In October 2013, the number of part-timers who also held a full-time job amounted to 24,272 persons; an increase of 3.7 per cent when compared to the corresponding month in 2012. Compared to October 2012, the number of employed persons whose part-time job was their primary occupation totalled 33,510; up by of 5.3 per cent or 1,692 persons when compared to 2012 levels.

In a statement this evening the government welcomed the figures which it said confirmed that the increase in jobs was mostly in the private sector.