News
Thursday - 26 April 2012
No. 82/2012
Labour market statistics, 1st quarter 2012
Unemployment rate 7.2%
The number of persons in the labour force in the 1st quarter of 2012 was 176,200 which correspond to an activity rate of 78.8%. The number of em-ployed persons was 163,500 and unemployed persons were 12,700. The employment rate was 73.2% and the unemployment rate was 7.2%. The number employed increased by 1.300 and number of unemployed decreased by 1.000 from the 1st quarter of 2011. At the same time number of inactive people increased by 1.100. The unemployment rate in the capital region was 8.1% and 5.5% in other regions. The average number of working hours of those who were working in the reference week was 39.9 hours, 46.1 hours for those in full-time employment and 22.2 hours for those in part-time employment. Those who have been unemployed for 12 months or more decreased by 1.000, from 3,800 or 2.2% of the labour force in 1st quarter of 2011 to 2,800 or 1.6% of the labour force in the 1st quarter of 2012.
Long-term unemployment decreases
Of those who were unemployed in the 1st quarter of 2012, 2,200 had been unemployed for 1-2 months or 1,2% of labour force compared to 2,400 or 1,4% in the 1st quarter of 2011.
Those who have been unemployed for 12 months or more decreased by 1.000, from 3,800 or 2.2% of the labour force in 1st quarter of 2011 to 2,800 or 1.6% of the labour force in the 1st quarter of 2012.
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. Students who are not employed and fulfil this criteria are considered 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.
| Labour market in 1st quarter | |||||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | ||
| 1. Q | 1. Q | 1. Q | 1. Q | Conf.Int. ± | |
| Activity rate | 79.5 | 79.7 | 79.2 | 78.8 | 1.3 |
| Employment rate | 73.8 | 73.6 | 73.0 | 73.2 | 1.4 |
| Unemployment rate | 7.1 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 7.2 | 1.0 |
| Labour force, est. number | 178,200 | 177,300 | 175,900 | 176,200 | 2,800 |
| Employed, est. number | 165,500 | 163,800 | 162,200 | 163,500 | 3,100 |
| Unemployed, est. number | 12,700 | 13,500 | 13,700 | 12,700 | 1,700 |
| Employed full time, est. number | 123,600 | 119,200 | 118,500 | 119,600 | 2,600 |
| Employed part time, est. number | 41,900 | 44,600 | 43,700 | 43,900 | 2,600 |
| Working hours | 38.9 | 39.0 | 39.5 | 39.9 | 0.6 |
| Working hours full time | 44.7 | 44.8 | 45.4 | 46.1 | 0.6 |
| Working hours part time | 21.4 | 22.4 | 22.5 | 22.2 | 0.8 |
| Inactive, est. number | 46,000 | 45,200 | 46,200 | 47,300 | 2,800 |
| Population , est. number | 224,200 | 222,500 | 222,200 | 223,500 | • |
| Figures may not add up because of rounding. | |||||
Implementation of the Labour Force Survey
The 1st quarter of 2012 covers 13 weeks, from 2nd of January to 1st of April. The total sample size was 3,918 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 3,813 persons. In total the number of usable answers was 3,212 which correspond to 84.2% 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 ±0.8 hours.
Labour market statistics, 1st quarter 2012 - Statistical Series
Statistics