(CYSTAT) The following results of the Labour Force Survey refer mainly to the 4th quarter of 2005, while comparison is made with the 3rd quarter of 2005 and the 4th quarter of 2004.
1. Labour Force
The Labour Force (i.e. the employed and the unemployed persons) in the 4th quarter of 2005 amounted to 369.874 persons (males 207.736 and females 162.138). In the 3th quarter the Labour Force amounted to 368.462 persons (males 207.481 and females 160.982). The Labour Force in the 4th quarter of 2004 amounted to 358.966 persons (males 200.266 and females 158.699).
The Labour Force participation rate for the age group 15-64 was 72,0% of the total population of this age group. The respective percentage for males was 82,3% and for females 62,3%. In the 3rd quarter the rate was 72,5% (males 83,5%, females 62,3%) wheareas in the 4th quarter of 2004 the rate was 72,6% (males 82,9% and females 62,9%).
2. Employment
The number of employed persons was 350.574 (males 197.342 and females 153.232). Females accounted for 43,7% of the employed persons. In the 3rd quarter the number of employed persons was 349.580 (males 199.050 and females 150.530). The number of employed persons in the 4th quarter of 2004 was 340.847 (males 192.914 and females 147.933).
The employment rate, i.e. the number of employed persons aged 15-64, as a percentage of the population of ages 15-64 was 68,1%. The respective percentage for males was 78,0% and for females 58,8%. In the 3th quarter the rate was 68,7% (males 79,9%, females 58,2%) and in the 4th quarter of 2004 the rate was 68,8% (males 79,8% and females 58,6%).
According to the distribution of employment by sector, the biggest percentage of employed persons was concentrated in services with 71,9%, whereas manufacturing followed with 23,3% and lastly agriculture with only 4,8%. In the 3th quarter, 71,4% were employed in services, 23,7% in manufacturing and 4,9% in agriculture. In the 4th quarter of 2004, 70,9% were employed in services, 24,8% in manufacturing and 4,3% in agriculture.
Part-time employment comprised 9,1% of total employment or 32.052 (males 5,3% and females 14,1%). In the 3rd quarter the percentage of part-time employment was 8,7% (males 4,6% and females 14,0%) and in the 4th quarter of 2004 the respective percentage was 8,5% (males 4,7% and females 13,4%).
77,4% or 271.352 of the employed persons were employees (wage or salary earners), of which 14,4% had a temporary job. The respective percentage for the 3rd quarter was 76,9% (with a temporary job 14,9%) and for the 4th quarter of 2004 was 76,6% (with a temporary job 12,6%).
The average usual weekly hours of work in the main job for employees with a full-time job amounted to 40,0 (males 40,4 and females 39,5 hours), whereas employees with a part-time job worked for 21,7 hours (males 23,2 and females 21,2 hours). In the 3rd quarter the respective hours for employees with a full-time job were 40,1 (males 40,5 and females 39,5 hours), whereas for employees with a part-time job were 22,1 (males 22,6 and females 22,0 hours). The respective figures for the 4th quarter of 2004 were 40,3 hours for employees with a full-time job (males 40,8 and females 39,8 hours) and 21,4 hours for employees with a part-time job (males 20,0 and females 21,8 hours).
3. Unemployment
The number of unemployed persons amounted to 19.300 or a rate of 5,2% of the labour force. The unemployment rate for males was 5,0% or 10.395 persons, whereas for females the rate was 5,5% or 8.905. In the 3rd quarter the number of unemployed persons was 18.882 or 5,1% (males 4,1% and females 6,5%). The respective rate for the 4th quarter of 2004 was 5,0% or 18.119 persons (males 3,7% and females 6,8%).
Analysing the unemployed persons by age shows that the unemployment rate is higher for young persons aged 15-24 which accounted for 14,1% of the labour force of the same age group (males 16,2% and females 11,9%). In the 3rd quarter the rate was 14,7% (males 12,1% and females 17,6%). In the 4th quarter of 2004 the respective rate was 12,1% (males 9,8% and females 14,6%).
As far as the duration of unemployment is concerned, 61,8 % of the total unemployed persons searched for a job for a period of less than 6 months, 16,7% for a period of 6-11 months, whereas a percentage of 21,5% searched for a job for one year and over. The respective percentages for the 3rd quarter were (57,7%, 20,6% and 21,7%) and for the 4th quarter of 2004 were (58,5%, 13,9%, 27,6%). (Source: CYSTAT)
