The number of persons in the labour force in the 1st quarter of 2017 was 197,100 corresponding to an activity rate of 82.7%. The number of employed persons was 191,500 while unemployed persons were 5,600. The employment rate was 80.4% and the unemployment rate was 2.9%. From the 1st quarter of 2016 the number of employed persons has increased by 7,200 and the employment rate increased by 1.2 percentage points. At the same time the number of unemployed persons decreased by 500 and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 points. The unemployment rate among females was 2.5% and 3.2% among males.
Long-term unemployment rate 11.2%
Those who have been unemployed for 12 months or more in 1st quarter of 2017 were 600 or 0.3% of the total labour force and 11.2% of the total unemployed. In the 1st quarter of 2016 long term unemployed persons were 400 or 0.2% of the labour force and 6.2% of the total unemployed.
Persons are classified as unemployed when they 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.
Average working hours
In the 1st quarter of 2017 the average number of persons at work in the reference week was 176,700, or 74.2% of the population and 92.3% of all in employment. The average number of working hours of those who were at work was 39.5 hours, 45.4 hours for those in full-time employment and 23 hours for those in part-time employment.
Labour market statistics, 1st quarter 2017 - Statistical Series