6,972 full-time employment increase over 12 months

Administrative data provided by the Employment and Training Corporation shows that, over a period of one year, the labour supply (excluding part-timers) increased by 3.1 per cent, reaching 174,030. The figure excludes part-time workers.

In a statement, the National Statistics Office said the increase was mainly attributed to an increase in the full-time gainfully occupied population (6,972) and a drop in registered unemployment (1,750).

Increase of 7,000 jobs in 1year up to March. Equivalent to17 new ft jobs daily during this legislature. 3 times rate of previous gov -JM

— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) August 24, 2015

Registered full-time employment

In March, administrative and support service activities (NACE 77-82) contributed mostly to the increase in employment, compared to March 2014. Registered full-time employment in the private sector went up by 6,431 persons to 124,077. Public sector full- time employment increased by 541 persons to 44,059.

The number of persons registered as full-time self-employed rose by 555 when compared to March 2014, while the number of persons registered as employees increased by 6,417. Full-time employment for males and females went up by 3.3 per cent and 6.1 per cent respectively over 2014 levels.

Government says there has been an increase of some 12,750 full-time jobs since the beginning of the administration

The government said that the country has seen an increase that is almost three times bigger than the previous administration, in just two years.

“Official statistics show that in the first two years, this administration secured 17 new jobs daily,” the statement reads adding that the increases were registered mostly in the services industry.

“Administrative services saw a 2,900 increase, technical and professional services saw a rise of 1,000 jobs, while financial and IT and communications services saw a 1,100 and 900 increase respectively,” the statement reads, adding that retail, restaurants and hotels, and gaming had seen an additional 1,100, 600 and 1,300 full time jobs in the same period.

“Employment in the private sector also increased with 400 full time posts in manufacturing, and 600 posts in construction,” the government added, pointing out that these had been particularly challenging sectors under the pervious administration.

The statement added that the private health and education sectors had also seen 1,000 new full time jobs.

“The private sector has seen an added 10,200 people in full-time employment since the beginning of the administration, which means that eight out of every 10 jobs created were in the private sector.”

The statement emphasized that these figures went against the Opposition’s views that improvements in the employment sector were limited to the public sector.

“Full time public employment currently stands at 26.2% of total full-time employment, whereas under the previous administration this figure was at 26.7%,” the government said.

The statement explained that developments had removed pressure from the public sector, but that the government had increased resources in the public services sector anyway.

“There are currently 1,200 more employees in the public health and education services sector compared to the previous administration,” it added, explaining that statistics had also shown 800 new jobs in Gozo.