The manufacturing sector saw a drop of nearly 2,000 jobs in April when compared to the same month last year, statistics issued by the National Statistics Office reveal.

Registered unemployment in April was up by 1,124 when compared to April last year while total unemployment stood at 7,210 compared to 7,083 in March.

The full-time gainfully employed population was left practically unchanged, the labour supply having increased by 1,106 over the corresponding month in 2008. At the same time, while a drop of 1,946 jobs was recorded in the manufacturing sector, increases in full-time jobs were seen in the wholesale and retail trade, health and social work, transport and real estate among others, seeing a combined growth of 2,146 jobs.

The workforce is also increasing its female component, with the number of women employed on a full-time basis going up by 1,056 while the male workforce dropped by 1,074.

In the 12 months to April this year, the private sector increased its employment levels by 1,338, gains that were practically evened out by a drop of 1,356 jobs in the public sector, the majority of which being due to the early retirement schemes provided to shipyard workers last September.

Total part-time employment rose by 2,443 when compared to April 2008. This increase included 1,124 persons with a part-time job on the side and 1,319 persons with a part-time job as their primary occupation.