Unemployment dropped by almost 1,000 and the gainfully occupied rose by 3,183 last December when compared to the previous December, official figures issued today show.

The National Statistics Office, quoting ETC figures, said the registered unemployed decreased by 989 persons and the labour supply increased by 2,194 to 149,008 persons. Of these, the full-time gainfully occupied population amounted to 142,836 persons, whilst the registered unemployed amounted to 6,172 persons.

During the whole of 2007 the economic activities which registered the main growth in full-time employment were real estate, renting and business activities, hotels and restaurants and other community, social and personal service activities.

On the downside, employment fell in manufacturing and electricity, gas and water supply sectors. Manufacturing on its own shed 858.

On a year-on-year basis, the number of self-employed persons increased by 251 to reach 16,806
persons.

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