In the month under review, employment in the private production sector increased by 18 when compared to March. In relation to April 2003, the number of full-time gainfully employed in the private direct production sector decreased by 1,237 persons. Employment in the manufacturing sector remained stable in April compared to the preceding month.

The private market services sector increased its employment levels by 153 persons in April as against March. There was an increase of 367 people employed in the private market services sector on a year-to-year basis.

In April, the hotels and catering establishments increased 27 full-time employed persons. The wholesale and retail trade sub-sector increased 14 persons in its full-time employment complement over the previous month.

There was also an increase of 139 employees in the public sector between March and April. When compared to April last year there was a drop of 470 employees.

In April, there were 19,130 people holding a part-time employment as their primary occupation. On the other hand, there were 15,163 persons who held a part-time job in addition to their full-time employment.

4,251 persons whose part-time employment is their primary occupation work in hotels and catering establishments. Another 3,073 persons work in wholesale and trade. Government departments employ 1,723 part-timers whose part-time job is their primary occupation.

In April, there were 8,339 registered unemployed with the Employment and Training Corporation. Of these, 7,704 were registering Part 1, while 635 were registering Part 2.

The registered unemployment rate stood at 5.8 per cent of the labour supply. The registered unemployment rate for men stood at 6.5 per cent, whereas that for women stood at four per cent.