Unemployment rate 5.8%
The number of persons in the labour force in the 1st quarter of 2013 was 178,300 which correspond to an activity rate of 78.9%. The number of employed persons was 167,900 and unemployed persons were 10,300. The employment rate was 74.3% and the unemployment rate was 5.8%. From the 1st quarter of 2012 the number of employed persons increased by 4,100 and the number of unemployed persons decreased by 2,400. The unemployment rate among males was 6.1% and 5.4% among females. The average number of working hours of those who were working in the reference week was 38.2 hours, 44 hours for those in full-time employment and 21.3 hours for those in part-time employment.
Long-term unemployment
Long term unemployment stayed relatively the same between the 1st quarter of 2013 and the 4th quarter of 2012. Those who have been unemployed for 12 months or more were 2.600 or 1.4%, of the labour force. In the 1st quarter of 2012 long term unemployment persons were 2.800 or 1.6% of the labour force.
Persons are classified as unemployed who have no employment, are actively seeking a job and could start working within two weeks or have found a job which starts within 3 months. Students who are not employed and fulfil this criteria are considered unemployed. People are classified as working (employed) if they worked one hour or more in the reference week or were absent from work they usually carry out.
| Labour market in 1st quarter | |||||
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | ||
| 1. Q | 1. Q | 1. Q | 1. Q | Conf.Int. ± | |
| Activity rate | 79.8 | 79.2 | 78.9 | 78.9 | 1.3 |
| Employment rate | 73.7 | 73.0 | 73.3 | 74.3 | 1.4 |
| Unemployment rate | 7.6 | 7.8 | 7.2 | 5.8 | 0.9 |
| Labour force, est. number | 177,500 | 175,900 | 176,400 | 178,300 | 2,900 |
| Employed, est. number | 163,900 | 162,200 | 163,800 | 167,900 | 3,200 |
| Unemployed, est. number | 13,500 | 13,700 | 12,700 | 10,300 | 1,600 |
| Employed full time, est. number | 119,300 | 118,500 | 119,800 | 123,700 | 2,700 |
| Employed part time, est. number | 44,700 | 43,700 | 43,900 | 44,200 | 2,700 |
| Working hours | 38.9 | 39.5 | 39.9 | 38.2 | 0.7 |
| Working hours full time | 44.9 | 45.5 | 46.1 | 44.0 | 0.7 |
| Working hours part time | 22.2 | 22.3 | 22.1 | 21.3 | 0.9 |
| Inactive, est. number | 45,000 | 46,200 | 47,000 | 47,700 | 2,900 |
| Population , est. number | 222,500 | 222,200 | 223,500 | 226,000 | • |
| Figures may not add up because of rounding. | |||||
Implementation of the Labour Force Survey
The 1st quarter of 2013 covers 13 weeks, from 31st of December 2012 to 31st of March 2013. The total sample size was 3,927 persons aged 16–74 years old selected randomly from the National registry. When those who had passed away or those who were living abroad had been deducted from the sample the net sample was 3,839 persons. In total the number of usable answers was 3,126 which correspond to 81.4% response rate. All figures have been weighted by sex and age groups. The confidence limit of the results on activity rate is ±1.3%, employment rate is ±1.4%, unemployment rate is ±0.9% and working hours is ±0.7 hours.
Labour market statistics, 1st quarter 2013 - Statistical Series