(Adds PN's statement)
Employment increased by three per cent in the second quarter this year when compared to the same period last year, according to Labour Force Survey estimates.
The National Statistics Office said that almost half the population aged 15 and over was employed.
Total employment stood at 176,862, while the number of unemployed and inactive persons numbered 12,758 (four per cent) and 170,614 (47 per cent), respectively.
Out of every 100 aged 15-64 surveyed during the second quarter, 65 were active. The activity rate varied from 50 per cent among females to 79 per cent among males.
The employment rate for persons aged 15 to 64 stood at 61 per cent, an increase of two percentage points over the rate in the previous year.
This rate rose by three percentage points for females and one percentage point for males. The highest employment rate was recorded among persons aged between 25-54.
The largest share of employed men (32 per cent) were engaged in wholesale and retail trade, transportation and storage, accommodation and food service activities. On the other hand, 41 per cent of females worked in public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities.
Employees accounted for nearly 86 per cent of the total work force. A total 85 per cent worked on a full-time basis.
The average gross annual basic salary of employees was estimated at €15,730. This included the gross annual basic salary but excluded extra payments such as overtime, bonuses and allowances. The highest average gross annual salary for employees was recorded in financial and insurance activities.
The unemployment rate for the period under review was estimated at 6.7 per cent. A total 41 per cent stated they had been seeking work for at least 12 months.
In a reaction, the Nationalist Party said official figures confirmed that not enough jobs were being created for the amount of people entering the labour market for the first time or who had lost their jobs.
For in spite of the three per cent increase in the number of employed, the rate of those who were unemployed also role to 6.7 per cent - 0.2 per cent more than in the same period last more. This meant 800 more people unemployed.
The situation was of greater concern when one considered that there were also drop in industrial production, imports and exports.
The Government had to draw up a plan for the creation of jobs, it insisted.