The labour supply went up by 2,386 persons last November over the same month in 2006, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

The full-time gainfully occupied population rose by 3,096, while the registered unemployed dropped by 710.

As a result, the labour supply amounted to 149,822 persons. Of these, the full-time gainfully occupied population amounted to 143,199 persons, while the registered unemployed amounted to 6,623.

In the 12 months to November 2007, the economic activities which registered the main growth in full-time employment were real estate, renting and business activities; hotels and restaurants; and community, social and personal service activities.

The growth in real estate, renting and business sector was of 1,417. This sector includes accounting and auditing, security services and call centres.

Hotels and restaurants reported a rise of 635 persons. Once again, the community, social and personal service activities sector increased by 579 persons. This sector includes betting companies.

On the downside, the number of the gainfully occupied fell in manufacturing and electricity, gas and water supply. In fact, the number of people employed in manufacturing dropped by 856, while in the electricity, gas and water sector, the supply slipped by 137 persons.

Last November, the full-time gainfully occupied increased by 2,843 persons in Malta and by 253 in Gozo.

A regional comparison indicates that the number of full-time gainfully persons in hotels and restaurants went up in Malta and in Gozo.

On the other hand, the number of full-time gainfully in manufacture increased in Gozo, while it is on the decline in Malta.

On a year-on-year basis, part-timers rose by 3,621. There was an increase of 1,610 persons among part-timers who also hold a full-time job. Those having a part-time job as their primary occupation went up by 2,011.