In the three months between June and August 2006, there was a statistically significant change in average employment, while the unemployment level remained unchanged when compared to the same period last year, according to National Statistics figures released yesterday.

The Labour Force Survey is carried out using a random sample of 2,500 private households per quarter. The criteria used for this survey are in line with international methodologies used by the ILO. All data contained in this release refer to people aged 15 and over.

Labour Status

Labour Force Survey results indicate that for the period June to August 2006, there was a statistically significant increase in employment over the same period last year. This was mainly attributable to an increase in the number of employed women. On the other hand, there were no statistically significant differences in the number of those unemployed and inactive during the same period.

Estimates for the three months to August 2006 show that of all those aged between 15 and 64, 59.4 per cent were in the labour force and 55.6 per cent were employed. There was an increase in the employment rate, mainly among women. The unemployment rate for the period June to August stood at 6.3 per cent, compared to 7.4 per cent during the same period last year.

Increases in employment were estimated to have occurred mainly in the services sector. There was also a statistical significant increase in the number of part-time workers over the same period last year.