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Labour market 2011

Unemployment rate 7.1%
The number of persons in the labour force in 2011 was 180,000 of which 167,300 were employed and 12,700 unemployed. The activity rate was 80.4%, employment rate was 74.7% and unemployment rate was 7.1%. The number of unemployed has decreased by 1.000 since 2010. In 2010, the unemployment rate in Reykjavík was 9%, in Reykjavík surrounding area it was 7% and 5% in other regions. Among males unemployment rate was 7.8% and among females it was 6.2%.

Long-term unemployment increases
Of those who were unemployed in 2011, 2,400 had been unemployed for 1-2 months or 19.2% of all unemployed compared with 2.800 (20.8%) in 2010. Long-term unemployed (12 months or longer) were 3,400 (26.5%) in 2011 compared with 2,800 (20.3%) in 2010.

Employed persons work 40 hours per week
The average actual working hours per week in 2011 were 40 hours compared to 39.5 in 2010. In the years 1991 to 2011 the working hours of males decreased from 51.3 hours to 44.1. During the same period the working hours of females has remained relatively stable at around 35 hours. The working hour of females in 2011 was 35.4.

Labour market 2011 - Statistical Series