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Labour force survey, July 2012

Unemployment 4.4%
The number of persons in the labour force in July 2012 was 189,700 which correspond to an activity rate of 84.5%. The number of employed persons was 181,400 and unemployed persons were 8,400. The employment rate was 80.8% and the unemployment rate was 4.4%. The unemployment rate has decreased by 1 percentage points from July 2011 when it was 5.4%. In July 2012 the male unemployment rate was 5.8% compared to 5.5% in July 2011 and the female unemployment rate was 2.8% compared to 5.4%. 

Flowchart. Labour force July 2012

Seasonally adjusted unemployment 5.8%
The seasonally adjusted data shows that in July 2012 unemployed persons aged 16-74 amounted to 10,600 or 5.8% compared to 11,000 in June 2012 or 6.1%. The number of seasonally adjusted employed persons in July was 171,900 or 76.8% which was the same number as in June 2012. The seasonally adjusted trend data shows that there is little or no decrease in unemployment in recent months.

Implementation
July 2012 is divided in to four weeks, from the 2nd to 29th of July. The total sample size for July 2012 was 1,199 persons. When those who had passed away or those who were living abroad had been deducted from the sample the net sample was 1,177 persons. In total the number of usable answers was 969 which correspond to 82.3% response rate. All figures have been weighted by sex and age groups. The confidence limit of the results on activity rate is ±2.3%, unemployment rate is ±1.4%. Figures may not add up because of rounding.