There was an increase in employment in the last three months of 2009, when compared with the same period in the previous year.

The National Statistics Office said that according to For Labour Force Survey estimates, the number of employed during the period was estimated at 162,918 (46.4 per cent), that of unemployed at 13,022 (3.7 per cent), and the number of inactive people at 175,007 (49.9 per cent).

Of those in the 15-64 age bracket, 59.4 per cent were either working or unemployed.

The highest activity rates among men and women were recorded in the 25-54 age group.

The employment rate for the fourth quarter of 2009 was estimated at 54.9 per cent, with the highest rates being recorded among people aged between 25 and 54.

The majority of employed men were engaged in manufacturing activities, (16 per cent), followed by 15.6 per cent in the wholesale and retail trade sector.

In contrast, most of the female employed population worked in education-related activities (16.5 per cent), followed by 14.1 per cent in wholesale and retail trade.

In general, the employed were mostly working in service-oriented jobs. This category included occupations such as hairdressers, waiters and sales personnel.

Service-oriented occupations were predominant among females, whereas men were mostly engaged in craft-related jobs.

In terms of professional status, the self-employed were estimated to make up 12.9 per cent of the total work force. Full-time employed people were 144,188 or 88.5 per cent of the total, while those in part-time occupations, together with full-time employees working on reduced-hours, comprised 11.5 per cent of total employment.

In the period under review, the average gross annual salary of employees was estimated at €13,907.

This refers to the basic salary and excludes extra payments such as overtime, bonuses and allowances, as explained in the methodological notes.

On a sectoral basis, the highest average gross annual salary was recorded in financial intermediation. The highest average salary for employees by main occupation was in the legislators, senior officials and managerial occupations categories.

During 2008 and 2009, an increase in the number of unemployed persons was recorded. The majority were aged between 15 and 24 years, followed by those in the 35-44 age group.

Within the unemployed population, 44 per cent had been seeking work for a year or more.

The unemployment rate for the period under review stood at 7.4 per cent.