In March 2019, registered full-time employment increased by 6.1 per cent while part-time employment as a primary job increased by 1.5 per cent when compared to the corresponding month in 2018, the NSO said today.

Administrative data provided by Jobsplus show that, over a period of one year, the labour supply (excluding part-timers) in March increased by 6.0 per cent, reaching 215,750. This was mainly attributed to a year on year increase in the full-time registered employment (12,370) and a decline in registered unemployment (182).

When March 2019 is compared to March 2018, the highest increase in employment was brought about by professional, scientific and technical activities and human health and social work activities, with 2,270 and 1,272 respectively. Registered full-time employment in the private sector went up by 11,558 persons to 166,278. Public sector full-time employment increased by 812 persons to 47,700.

The number of persons registered as full-time self-employed rose by 1,619 when compared to March 2018, while the number of persons registered as employees increased by 10,751. Full-time employment for males and females went up by 5.5 per cent and 7.1 per cent respectively over 2018 levels.

Registered part-time employment in March 2019 went up by 5.3 per cent when compared to a year earlier. The overall increase was mainly generated by professional, scientific and technical activities and arts, entertainment and recreation. On the other hand, accommodation and food services activities registered a drop of 310 persons when compared to March 2018.

The number of part-timers who also held a full-time job amounted to 28,648 up by 10.4 per cent when compared to the corresponding month in 2018. Employed persons whose part-time job was their primary occupation totalled 34,771, up by 1.5 per cent when compared to 2018.