Labour survey estimates indicate 2.8% increase in employment

Labour Force Survey estimates indicate that, during the fourth quarter of 2013, total employment stood at 178,241, accounting for almost half the population aged 15 and over. Unemployed persons numbered 12,131 (3.4 per cent), while inactive persons totaled 170,556 (47.3 per cent).

The activity rate for the quarter under review was estimated at 65.3 per cent. When compared to the previous year, the activity rates among men and women increased by 2.3 and 1.1 percentage points respectively. The highest activity rate was recorded among persons aged 25-54 (79.3 per cent).

Out of every 100 persons aged 15-64, 61 were employed. The employment rate increased by 1.6 percentage points compared to the corresponding quarter in 2012. The highest employment rate was recorded among persons aged 25-54, at 75 per cent.

Employed men were mostly engaged in wholesale and retail trade, transportation and storage, accommodation and food service activities (30.3 per cent). On the other hand, at 38.2 per cent, employed women were mostly engaged in public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities.

Self-employed persons accounted for 13.1 per cent of the total employed population. The majority of employed persons worked on a full-time basis and totalled 152,296.

An estimated 21,504 (12.1 per cent) had a part-time job as their primary employment. A further 4,441 were working full-time with reduced hours.

The average gross annual salary of employees for the fourth quarter was estimated at €16,022. This amount refers to the gross annual basic salary and excludes extra payments such as overtime, bonuses and allowances, as explained in the methodological notes. The highest average gross annual salary for employees was recorded in financial and insurance activities.

Average annual salaries varied from €26,656 for managers to €10,747 for elementary staff.

Survey results estimate that the unemployment rate for the fourth quarter stood at 6.4 per cent. The largest share of unemployed persons was recorded among persons aged 25 and over. Among unemployed persons, 45.4 per cent stated that they had been seeking work for at least 12 months.