Unemployment at 7.4% in 2009 – Labour Force Survey
The Labour Force Survey has registered an unemployment rate of 7.4% at the end of 2009, mainly increasing over the previous year amongst those aged 15-24 and the 35-44 age group.
44% within the unemployed population had been seeking work for 12 months or more.
During the fourth quarter of 2009, the number of employed persons was estimated at 162,918 (46.4%), the number of unemployed persons at 13,022 (3.7%), and the number of inactive persons at 175,007 (49.9%).
Of persons in the 15-64 age bracket, 59.4% were active, that is either working or unemployed. The highest activity rates among men and women were recorded in the 25-54 age group.
The employment rate for the fourth quarter of 2009 was estimated at 54.9%, with the highest rates being recorded among persons aged between 25 and 54 years.
The majority of employed men were engaged in manufacturing activities (16%), followed by 15.6% in the wholesale and retail trade sector. By contrast, most of the female employed population worked in education-related activities (16.5%), followed by 14.1% in wholesale and retail trade.
In general, employed persons were mostly working in service-oriented jobs. This category includes occupations such as hairdressers, waiters and salespersons. Service-oriented occupations were predominant among female workers, whereas men were mostly engaged in craft-related jobs.
In terms of professional status, self-employed persons were estimated to make up 12.9% of the total work force. From the aspect of employment type, full-time employed persons were 144,188 or 88.5% of the total, while persons engaged in part-time occupations, together with full-time employed persons working on a reduced-hours basis, comprised 11.5% of total employment.
In the period under review, the average gross annual salary of employees was estimated at €13,907, excluding extra payments such as overtime, bonuses and allowances, as explained in the methodological notes. On a sectoral basis, the highest average gross annual salary was recorded in financial intermediation. The highest average salary for employees by main occupation was in the legislators, senior officials and managerial occupations categories.
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
