More women in part-time as their primary occupation

Full-time workers increased by 1.7% in December 2012 over the corresponding month in 2011.

Administrative data provided by the Employment and Training Corporation show that over a one-year period, the labour supply increased by 2,731 persons, reaching 159,775. This was attributed to an increase of 2,507 full-time employed persons and an increase of 224 registered unemployed persons when compared to 2011.

Compared to 2011, the highest increases in full-time employment were recorded in the Administrative and Support Service Activities (+12 per cent) and in the Human Health and Social Work Activities (+4.5 per cent). Conversely, when compared to December 2011, a decline of 2.7 per cent was recorded within Construction.

During the month under review, private sector employment amounted to 73.2 per cent of the total full-time employed population. Year-on-year, full-time employment in the private sector rose by 2.4 per cent, with the highest increase (917 jobs) being recorded within Administrative and Support Service Activities. On the other hand, private sector employment in the Manufacturing Sector decreased by 200 when compared to the corresponding month in 2011. In December 2012, public sector employment amounted to 41,005, a decrease of 0.3 per cent over the previous year. The highest decrease was recorded in the Transportation and Storage Sector (-1.8 per cent). In contrast, year-on-year increases of 2.8 per cent and 2.3 per cent were recorded in public sector activities associated with Human Health and Social Work and Education.

Employment among males remained at par with the previous year, while an increase of 4.4 per cent was recorded among females who held a full-time job. This was attributed to an increase of 18.3 per cent in the Administrative and Support Service Activities.

When compared to December 2011, the number of full-time employees rose by 1.8 per cent. During this period, the number of self-employed also increased by 0.9 per cent.

In the twelve months to December 2012, part-time employment amounted to 55,655, an increase of 4.2 per cent over the previous year. Administrative and Support Service Activities recorded the highest increase in part-time employment: 885 persons.

The number of part-timers who also held a full-time job increased by 603 when compared to 2011, with the highest increase being registered among females (+472 jobs). Employees who held a part-time job as their primary occupation rose by 1,612 persons, with the increase mostly evident among females (+875 persons).