.png)
Number of employed persons increases by 2.7%
During the second quarter of 2011, the number of employed persons was 2.7% more than 2010 and estimated at 168,222 according to the NSO.
Unemployed persons amounted to 12,069 and inactive persons stood at 174,354 accounting for 3% and 49% of the total population aged 15 and over respectively.
Active persons within the 15-64 age group amounted for just over 60% of the active work force with the highest activity rates recorded for both men and women in the 25-54 age group.
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and household goods, hotels and restaurants, transport and communication were the sectors most engaged in by 32% of employed men. Other ‘service activities’ were taken up by 46% of the female employed population.
The highest rates of employment were recorded among persons aged 25 to 54 for both sexes estimating a 57% employment rate for the second quarter of 2011.
Service-oriented jobs were most engaged in by employed persons followed by technical and associate professional occupations. Around 21% of women were engaged in service-oriented occupations for the most part. In contrast, 16% of men were engaged in craft-related jobs.
Self-employed persons amounted to nearly 14% of the total workforce. 87% of employed persons were recorded as working on a full-time basis while those working on full-time with reduced hours or part-time were taken up by 21,894 individuals.
The gross annual salary of employees, excluding overtime, bonuses and allowances, was averaged at an estimate of €15,016. Employment sections offering the highest average gross annual salary to employees were recorded in financial, real estate, renting and business activities whilst €24,087 was recorded as an average income for the highest income earners such as legislators, senior officials and managerial occupations.
Persons within the 15-24 age group accounted for the largest share of unemployed persons and 49% of the unemployed spent 12 months or more seeking work. During the months of April through to June of 2011, the unemployment rate was estimated at 6.7%. 6.5% and 7.0% of the unemployment rate was accounted by men and women respectively.
