Labour market data for June 2008 indicates that the full-time gainfully occupied population increased by 3,426 persons while unemployment decreased by 476 persons when compared to June 2007.
This labour market data is provided by the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC), for the month of June 2008. In the month under review, the labour supply increased by 2,950 persons over the same month in 2007. The full-time gainfully occupied population increased by 3,426 persons, whereas the registered unemployed decreased by 476 persons.
In this way, the labour supply amounted to 151,118 persons. Of these, the full-time gainfully occupied population amounted to 145,257 persons, whilst the registered unemployed amounted to 5,861 persons.
On a year-on-year basis, the full-time gainfully occupied population in the public sector decreased by 588 persons. On the other hand, the full-time gainfully occupied population in the private sector increased by 4,014 persons. The main areas of the public sector which have shed jobs in the twelve months to June 2008 were transport, storage and communication (-633 persons), construction (-196 persons), and education (-133 persons). In contrast, the main increase in the number of full-time gainfully occupied population within the public sector occurred in health and social work (NACE 85).
In the twelve months to June 2008, full-time employment increased by 2,984 in Malta and by 442 in Gozo.
Economic activities
In the twelve-months to June 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 1,305 persons on its books. On its part, the sector of other community, social and personal service activities (NACE 90-93) increased by 631 persons. Health and social work activities (NACE 85) reported an increase of 567 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 887 persons, whilst the sector of electricity, gas and water supply dropped by 116 persons.
Self-employment
On a year-on-year basis, the number of self-employed persons increased by 240 to reach 17,007 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 June 2008, part-time employment rose by 2,594. Among part-timers who also hold a full-time job, there was an increase of 1,067 persons, whilst those having a part-time job as their primary occupation went up by 1,527 persons.