The Minister for Finance Prof. Edward Scicluna today welcomed the figures published by the National Statistics Office which showed a record increase in both full-time and part-time employment, particularly in sensitive sectors.

According to the figures on the gainfully-occupied population published by the NSO on Wednesday 6 August 2014, in March 2014 full-time employment increased by 3.6 per cent or 5,549 persons, while part-time employment as a primary job rose by 6.3 per cent or 1,979 persons, when compared to the corresponding month in 2013.

“From an economic perspective it is reassuring that female employment continued to increase above the national average rate. This applies to both in full-time jobs and part-time as primary jobs”, Prof. Scicluna remarked. 

Indeed, the number of females in full-time jobs increased by 5.6 per cent, while the number of females having part-time jobs as their primary jobs increased by 6.9 per cent.

The number of employed males also increased, as male full-time employment went up by 2.5 per cent while male part-time employment as a primary job increased by 5.3 per cent. The robust increase is spread across most sectors.

However it is encouraging to note robust increases being registered in the private sector especially in sensitive categories, which include manufacturing (185 persons), construction (157 persons), the self-employed (433 persons), and also employment in Gozo, which increased by 700 persons, Prof. Scicluna noted.