The latest labour market data, provided by the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC), for the month of May 2008, shows that the labour supply increased by 2,271 persons over the same month in 2007. The full-time gainfully occupied population increased by 2,833 persons, whereas the registered unemployed decreased by 562 persons.

In this way, the labour supply amounted to 150,034 persons. Of these, the full-time gainfully occupied population amounted to 144,016 persons, whilst the registered unemployed amounted to 6,018 persons.

Full-time employment in the private sector increased by 3,278 persons, whereas full-time employment in the public sector dropped by 445 persons. In the twelve months to May 2008, the areas of the private sector which increased its full-time gainfully occupied persons were mainly real estate, renting and business activities (NACE 70-74); transport, storage and communication (NACE 60-64); other community, social and personal service activities (NACE 90-93); and hotels and restaurants (NACE 55). On the other hand, the main drop in employment within the private sector occurred in manufacturing (NACE 15-37).

In the twelve months to May 2008, full-time employment increased by 2,419 in Malta and by 414 in Gozo.

Economic activities

In the twelve-months to May 2008, the economic activities which registered the main growth in full-time employment were real estate, renting and business activities (NACE 70-74); other community, social and personal service activities (NACE 90-93); and health and social work activities (NACE 85). Accordingly, the sector of real estate, renting and business activities (NACE 70-74) increased 1,183 persons on its books. On its part, the sector of other community, social and personal service activities (NACE 90-93) increased by 691 persons. Health and Social work activities (NACE 85) reported an increase of 561 persons. On the downside, the number of the gainfully occupied persons fell in manufacturing (NACE 15- 37) and electricity, gas and water supply (NACE 40-41). In fact, manufacturing dropped by 1,189 persons, whilst the sector of electricity, gas and water supply dropped by 117 persons.

Self-employment

On a year-on-year basis, the number of self-employed persons increased by 201 to reach 16,937 persons. The main economic activities in which the self-employed persons operate were wholesale and retail trade (NACE 50-52) and construction (NACE 45).

Part-time employment

In the twelve months to May 2008, part-time employment rose by 2,373. Among part-timers who also hold a full-time job, there was an increase of 957 persons, whilst those having a part-time job as their primary occupation went up by 1,416 persons.

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