The full time gainfully occupied increased by 3,426 persons in June while unemployment decreased by 476 when compared to June 2007, the NSO said today.

It said the labour supply amounted to 151,118 persons. Of these, the full-time gainfully occupied amounted to 145,257 (May = 144,016), whilst the registered unemployed amounted to 5,861 persons (May = 6,018).

On a year-on-year basis, full-time public sector employees decreased by 588 persons while those employed in the private sector increased by 4,014 . The main areas of the public sector which shed jobs were transport, storage and communication (-633 persons), construction (-196 persons), and education (-133 persons).

In contrast, the main increase in the number of full-time gainfully occupied population within the public sector occurred in health and social work.

In the 12 months to June 2008, full-time employment increased by 2,984 in Malta and by 442 in Gozo. The economic activities which registered the main growth were real estate, renting and business activities, social and personal service activities and health and social work activities.

The manufacturing sector saw a drop of 887 persons, whilst the sector of electricity, gas and water supply dropped by 116 persons.

On a year-on-year basis, the number of self-employed persons increased by 240 to reach 17,007 persons.

Part-time employment In the 12 months to June 2008 rose by 2,594. Among part-timers who also hold a full-time job, there was an increase of 1,067 persons, whilst those having a part-time job as their primary occupation went up by 1,527 persons.