News
Wednesday - 13 January 2010
No. 6/2010
Labour market statistics, 4th quarter 2009
Unemployment rate 6.7%
In the fourth quarter of 2009, 12,000 persons were unemployed and in search of a job or 6.7% of the labour force. The unemployment rate was 7.9% for men and 5.4% for women. The unemployment rate was highest among persons aged 16-24 years old, or 16.1%. The number of unemployed persons increased by 4,600 since the fourth quarter of 2008.The unemployment rate in the capital region is 6.6% and 7% in other regions.
Those who have been unemployed for 12 months or more are defined as long-term unemployed. In the fourth quarter of 2009, th number of long-term unemployed was 1,700 or 14% of persons unemployed. The number has increased from 200 persons since the fourth quarter of 2008.
Persons are classified as unemployed who have no employment, are actively seeking a job and could start working within two weeks or have found a job which starts within 3 months.
The number of employed persons decreased by 8,500 and the activity rate was 80.3%
The number of employed persons in the fourth quarter of 2009 was 166,500 and had decreased by 8,500 since the fourth quarter of 2008. The number of persons in the labour force was 178,500, which corresponds to an activity rate of 80.3%. The activity rate for men was 83.3% and 77.3% for women. The labour force includes people of working age who are either employed or unemployed. People are classified as working (employed) if they worked one hour or more in the reference week or were absent from work they usually carry out.
In the fourth quarter of 2008 the number of persons in the labour force was 182,400 and the activity rate was 81.5%. The activity rate of men was 85.3% and the activity rate of women was 77.4%.
Employed persons work 38.9 hours per week
In the fourth quarter of 2009 the average number of working hours for those who worked during the reference week was 38.9 hours. Men worked 42.9 hours and women worked 34.5 hours on average in the reference week. The average number of working hours of those who worked full-time was 44.6 hours per week and 23 hours for those working part-time.
In the fourth quarter of 2008 the average working hours were 39.3 hours. Men worked 43.8 hours and women 34.2 hours on average. For those who worked full-time it was 45 hours per week and 21.7 hours for those working part-time.
| Labour market in 4th quarter | |||||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||
| 4. Q | 4. Q | 4. Q | 4. Q | Conf.Int. ± | |
| Activity rate | 82.1 | 81.7 | 81.5 | 80.3 | 1.3 |
| Employment rate | 80.0 | 80.1 | 78.2 | 74.9 | 1.4 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.5 | 1.9 | 4.0 | 6.7 | 1.0 |
| Labour force, est. number | 174,300 | 179,800 | 182,400 | 178,500 | 2,800 |
| Employed, est. number | 169,900 | 176,300 | 175,000 | 166,500 | 3,100 |
| Unemployed, est. number | 4,300 | 3,500 | 7,400 | 12,000 | 1,700 |
| Employed full time, est. number | 129,400 | 135,100 | 130,900 | 121,000 | 2,700 |
| Employed part time, est. number | 40,500 | 41,200 | 44,100 | 45,500 | 2,700 |
| Working hours | 42.3 | 40.8 | 39.3 | 38.9 | 0.6 |
| Working hours full time | 47.8 | 46.2 | 45.0 | 44.6 | 0.7 |
| Working hours part time | 23.7 | 22.8 | 21.7 | 23.0 | 1.0 |
| Inactive, est. number | 38,100 | 40,200 | 41,400 | 43,700 | 2,800 |
| Population , est. number | 212,300 | 220,000 | 223,800 | 222,200 | • |
| Figures may not add up because of rounding. | |||||
Implementation of the Labour Force Survey
Since 2003 Statistics Iceland has conducted a continuous labour force survey with quarterly results. The fourth quarter of 2009 covers 13 weeks, from 28th of September to 27th of December. The total sample size was 3,935 persons aged 16-74 years old selected randomly from the National registry. When those who had passed away or those who were living abroad had been deducted from the sample the net sample was 3,835 persons. In total the number of usable answers was 3,108 which corresponds to 81.1% response rate. All figures have been weighted by sex and age groups. The confidence limit of the results on activity rate is ± 1.3%, unemployment rate is ± 1% and working hours is ± 0.7 hours.
Labour market statistics, 4th quarter 2009 - Statistical Series