For the first quarter 2008, the Labour Force Survey showed that there was a statistically significant change in the average employment over the previous year.

The Labour Force Survey is an enquiry which is carried out using a random sample of 3,200 private households per quarter. The criteria used for this survey are on the same lines as international methodologies used by ILO as further explained in the methodological notes. All data contained within this release refer to persons 15 years and over.

As from 2008, the weighting procedures are based on 2007 population estimates, which are calculated using the Census of Population and Housing 2005 as a benchmark. The first quarter 2007 estimates were revised accordingly to reflect the above methodology and therefore, are not to be compared to previous data that were worked out using the 1995 Census as a benchmark.

Labour Status

For the first quarter of 2008, the number of persons over 15 years was estimated to be 344,046. Of these 157,777 or 45 per cent were employed, 10,137 were unemployed and 176,132 persons were inactive.

In the period January to March 2008, out of every 100 persons between the age of 15 and 64, 58 were either working or unemployed (activity rate). The total activity rate remained stable when compared to the period January to March 2007 (58.1%).

With regard to employment for the first quarter 2008, 55 from every 100 persons between the age of 15 and 64 were working. In this regard, the employment rate for males was 72.8 per cent whereas that of females stood at 36 per cent. For persons in the 15 to 24 age bracket, the employment rate stood at 45.9 per cent.

The Employed Population

During the first quarter of this year, there was a statistically significant increase in the number of employed persons when compared to the same period in 2007. Most of this increase was attributed to females.

For the period under review, the majority of employed persons worked in the manufacturing or wholesale and retail trade; repairs sector. Additionally, the most common occupations were in the technicians and associate professionals category and in services related jobs. Information related to employee income is now being illustrated in Euro. During the first quarter of 2008, the average gross annual salary was estimated at €13,299.45 per annum equivalent to Lm5,709.45. Better paid jobs were estimated to be in the financial intermediation sector with an average of €17,992 per annum.

There is a significant increase in the total number of employees for the first quarter of 2008, when compared to the same period last year. In addition, the rise in employment was also reflected in a statistical significant increase in the number of full time employment.

The Unemployed Population

For the first three months of 2008, the total number of unemployed persons was estimated to be 10,137 persons.

Among the total number of unemployed in 2008, 51.0 per cent had been looking for a job for over a year, whilst a further 33.1 per cent had been looking for a job for less than 5 months ..