The full-time gainfully occupied population in July increased by 914 persons while unemployment dropped by 748 persons when compared to July 2006, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

In the month under review, the labour supply increased by 166 persons over the same month in 2006, amounting to 147,202 persons. Of these, the full-time gainfully occupied population amounted to 140,870 persons, while the registered unemployed amounted to 6,332 persons.

In the 12 months to July 2007, the private sector registered an increase of 1,516 persons in full-time employment. Accordingly, the private sector employed 98,287 persons in July. The areas of the private sector which registered the main growth were real estate, renting and business activities and other community, social and personal service activities.

In contrast, full-time employment in the public sector fell by 602. Accordingly, the public sector employed 42,583 persons in July. The public sector is shedding jobs across the board, with the two main exceptions to this trend being the areas of public administration and defence and health and social work.

Compared to July 2006 the full-time self-employment in July this year increased by 201 to reach 16,729 persons. The main increase of self-employed persons occurred in real estate, renting and business activities.

The number of employees went up by 713 to reach 124,141. The areas which registered the main increase in employees were real estate, renting and business activities and other community, social and personal service activities.

On a year-on-year basis, part-time employment rose by 3,500 to reach 47,489 persons. Among part-timers who also hold a full-time job, there was an increase of 1,491 persons, while those having a part-time job as their primary occupation went up by 2,009.