In the twelve months to January 2010, the full-time gainfully-occupied population decreased by 1,639, or 1.1 per cent. The number of persons in employment in January 2010 fell by 305, or 0.2 per cent, when compared to December 2009. The decline in the gainfully occupied population contributed to an increase in the registered unemployed, 11.0 per cent on a year-on-year basis and by 1.0 per cent between December 2009 and January 2010.

Full-time Employment

In comparison to the corresponding month last year, the gainfully occupied population in manufacturing [NACE 15-37] fell by 1,186, or 5.5 per cent. The main drop was registered in the manufacture of electrical machinery and apparatus [NACE 31], with a reduction of 418 persons followed by a drop of 246 in the manufacture of other transport equipment [NACE 35]. However, increases were registered in the manufacture of basic metals [NACE 27] and the manufacture of chemicals and chemical products [NACE 24], with 34.6 per cent and 3.9 per cent increases respectively over one year.

Between January 2009 and January 2010, the number of persons employed in construction [NACE 45] dropped 4.3 per cent whereas employment in hotels and restaurants decreased by 6.5 per cent. On the other hand, increases were recorded in other business activities (+ 538 persons), education (+ 253 persons), recreational, cultural and sporting activities (+ 252 persons) and health (+ 214 persons). During the period under review the majority of persons employed with the private sector worked in manufacturing (19.6 per cent) and wholesale and retail trade (21.4 per cent). The latter economic activity was in fact the second most common sector among both sexes, employing 15.5 per cent of males and 15.1 per cent of females, as well as the most common economic activity among the self-employed. In fact, almost a third of self-employed persons registered at ETC (29.9 per cent) where engaged in this activity.

Part-time Employment

When compared to January last year, total part-time employment rose by 2,239 or 4.8 per cent. Most of this increase (61.6 per cent) was attributed to persons who had a part-time job as their primary occupation.

During January, female part-timers holding a full-time job were mainly engaged in education and real estate, renting and business activities. Part-time males holding a full-time job were employed in real estate, renting and business activities followed by the hotels and restaurants sector. The wholesale and retail trade sector employed most of the females with part-time as their main occupation, whereas the majority of males with part-time as their main job were engaged in hotels and restaurants..

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