Full-time employment grows by 1.6%, workers on just part-time increase by 4.1%

Administrative data provided by the Employment and Training Corporation show that over a period of one year, the gainfully occupied population increased by 2,370 while the registered unemployed decreased by 158. This was reflected in an increase in the labour supply, to 156,005 ( 2,212).

Full-time employment

Full-time employment in October 2011 went up by 1.6 per cent. The highest increase was recorded within the Health and Social Work sector, with an increase of 7.5 per cent, or 810 persons. During the period under review, Real Estate, Renting and Business Activities also recorded an increase in employment of 3.1 per cent, or 499 persons. By contrast, Construction and the Wholesale and Retail Trade sector showed declines of 77 and 61 persons respectively when compared to October 2010.

Employment within the private sector amounted to 72.5 per cent of the gainfully occupied population. Employment in both the private and the public sector rose by 1.6 per cent when compared to October 2010. The highest increases within the private sector were recorded within Other Community, Social and Personal Service activities ( 5.1 per cent) and the Real Estate, Renting and Business Activities ( 3.8 per cent).

Public sector employment within Health and Social Work also showed an increase of 9 per cent when compared to the corresponding period in 2010. During this period, a drop in employment within the public sector took place within Construction (-119 persons).

Employees working on a full-time basis rose by 1.9 per cent when compared to the corresponding period in 2010. During the same period, the number of self-employed edged down by 0.2 per cent.

Female employment during October 2011 stood at 50,837, an increase of 2,228 persons or 4.6 per cent when compared to October 2010. The highest increase in female employment was mainly registered in Health and Social Work ( 807 persons). The number of employed males stood at 9,630, up by 0.1 per cent over October 2010. The economic activity which registered the highest increase in male employment was the Other Community, Social and Personal Service activities ( 216 persons).

Part-time employment

When compared to October 2010, total part-time employment went up by 4.3 per cent to 53,456.

The Hotels and Restaurants sector (NACE 55) recorded the highest increase ( 887) in part-time employment when compared to October 2010. October 2011 showed a decline of 359 part-timers, or 32.2 per cent, within Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory and Social Security.

Part-timers who also hold a primary job amounted to 43.5 per cent of total part-time employment. The highest fraction of part-timers who fell within this catergory are males.

Nevertheless, a significant increase of 8.6 per cent was registered among females. Employed persons who hold a part-time job as their primary job increased by 4.1 per cent, with the highest share being recorded among males.