News
Wednesday - 27 March 2013
No. 62/2013
Labour force survey, February 2013
Unemployment 4.7%
The number of persons in the labour force in February 2013 was 178,400 which correspond to an activity rate of 78.9%. The number of employed persons was 170,000 and unemployed persons were 8,400. The employment rate was 75.2% and the unemployment rate was 4.7%. The unemployment rate has decreased by 2.6 percentage points from February 2012 when it was 7.3%. In February 2013 the male unemployment rate was 4.4% compared to 7.9% in February 2012 and the female unemployment rate was 5% compared to 6.6% in February 2012.
Flowchart. Labour force February 2013
Figures may not add up because of rounding.
Seasonally adjusted unemployment 4.7%
The seasonally adjusted data shows that in February 2013 unemployed persons aged 16-74 amounted to 8,400 or 4.7% compared to 10,200 in January or 5.7%. The number of seasonally adjusted employed persons in February was 172,200 or 76.3% compared to 169.900 or 75.5% in January.
The seasonally adjusted trend data shows that for the last six months unemployment has decreased by 8.1% and the rate by 0.5 points. For the last twelve months unemployment has decreased by 25.9% and the rate by 1.5 points. The twelve month trend for employed persons shows an increase in number of employed by 1.9% and the rate has gone up by 1.6 points.
Implementation
February 2013 is divided in to four weeks, from the 4th of February to 3rd of March 2013. The total sample size for February 2013 was 1,199 persons, 16 to 74 years randomly chosen from the Population Register. When those who had passed away or those who were living abroad had been deducted from the sample the net sample was 1,174 persons. In total the number of usable answers was 954 which correspond to 81.2% response rate. All figures have been weighted by sex and age groups. The confidence limit of the results on activity rate is ±2.6 points, employment rate is ±2.8% and unemployment rate is ±1.5%. Figures may not add up because of rounding. ±
| Table 1. Labour market in February - Original | ||||||
| CI | CI | CI | ||||
| 2011 | (±95%) | 2012 | (±95%) | 2013 | (±95%) | |
| Total 16-74 years | ||||||
| Activity rate | 78.6 | 2.6 | 77.5 | 2.6 | 78.9 | 2.6 |
| Employment rate | 72.4 | 2.8 | 71.8 | 2.8 | 75.2 | 2.8 |
| Unemployment rate | 7.9 | 1.9 | 7.3 | 1.9 | 4.7 | 1.5 |
| Hours of work | 40.4 | 1.3 | 40.3 | 1.3 | 38.8 | 1.3 |
| Labour force | 174,400 | 5,700 | 172,900 | 5,800 | 178,400 | 6,000 |
| Employed | 160,600 | 6,300 | 160,300 | 6,300 | 170,000 | 6,300 |
| Unemployed | 13,800 | 3,400 | 12,600 | 3,200 | 8,400 | 2,700 |
| Inactive | 47,600 | 5,700 | 50,200 | 5,800 | 47,800 | 6,000 |
| Est. population | 222,000 | • | 223,100 | • | 226,200 | • |
| Table 2. Labour market last 6 months - Seasonal adjustment | ||||||
| Sep-12 | Oct-12 | Nov-12 | Dec-12 | Jan-13 | Feb-13 | |
| Total 16-74 years | ||||||
| Activity rate | 81.8 | 80.2 | 78.5 | 80.7 | 80.1 | 80.0 |
| Employment rate | 77.6 | 76.5 | 74.7 | 76.4 | 75.5 | 76.3 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 5.7 | 4.7 |
| Hours of work | 39.3 | 39.5 | 39.3 | 39.7 | 39.1 | 39.2 |
| Labour force | 182,300 | 179,000 | 176,800 | 181,400 | 180,100 | 180,600 |
| Employed | 172,700 | 170,700 | 168,400 | 171,600 | 169,900 | 172,200 |
| Unemployed | 9,500 | 8,300 | 8,400 | 9,800 | 10,200 | 8,400 |
| Inactive | 40,400 | 44,300 | 48,600 | 43,300 | 44,800 | 45,100 |
| Est. population | 222,700 | 223,300 | 225,400 | 224,700 | 225,000 | 225,700 |
| Table 3. Labour market last 6 months - Seasonal adjustment trend | ||||||
| Sep-12 | Oct-12 | Nov-12 | Dec-12 | Jan-13 | Feb-13 | |
| Total 16-74 years | ||||||
| Activity rate | 79.7 | 79.7 | 79.6 | 79.7 | 79.9 | 80.1 |
| Employment rate | 75.3 | 75.3 | 75.4 | 75.6 | 75.8 | 76.0 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| Hours of work | 39.5 | 39.4 | 39.4 | 39.4 | 39.3 | 39.3 |
| Labour force | 178,300 | 178,800 | 178,900 | 179,100 | 179,300 | 179,600 |
| Employed | 168,400 | 169,000 | 169,500 | 169,800 | 170,100 | 170,500 |
| Unemployed | 9,900 | 9,700 | 9,500 | 9,300 | 9,200 | 9,100 |
| Inactive | 45,300 | 45,700 | 45,900 | 45,600 | 45,100 | 44,700 |
| Est. population | 223,600 | 224,400 | 224,800 | 224,700 | 224,500 | 224,300 |