Unemployment rate 4.1%
The number of persons in the labour force in the 4th quarter of 2014 was 185,700 corresponding to an activity rate of 80.9%. The number of employed persons was 178,800 while unemployed persons were 7,700. The employment rate was 77.5% and the unemployment rate was 4.1%. From the 4th quarter of 2013 the number of employed persons has increased by 1,800 and the employment rate increased by 0.5 percentage points. At the same time the number of unemployed persons fell by 700 and the unemployment rate decreased by 0.4 points. The unemployment rate among females was 3.9% and 4.3% among males. The average number of working hours of those who were working in the reference week was 39.3 hours, 45 hours for those in full-time employment and 22.1 hours for those in part-time employment.
Long-term unemployment
In 2014 the number of long term unemployed decreased. Those who had been unemployed for 12 months or more in 4th quarter of 2014 were 1.000 or 0.5% of the labour force. In the 4th quarter of 2013 long term unemployment persons were 2,000 or 1.1% 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 4th quarter | |||||
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | ||
| 4th Q | 4th Q | 4th Q | 4th Q | Conf.Int. ± | |
| Activity rate | 78.5 | 78.7 | 80.7 | 80.9 | 1.2 |
| Employment rate | 73.8 | 75.0 | 77.0 | 77.5 | 1.3 |
| Unemployment rate | 6.0 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 0.8 |
| Labour force, est. number | 176,000 | 176,800 | 184,600 | 185,700 | 2,800 |
| Employed, est. number | 165,400 | 168,400 | 176,200 | 178,000 | 3,100 |
| Unemployed, est. number | 10,600 | 8,400 | 8,400 | 7,700 | 1,500 |
| Employed full time, est. number | 123,700 | 126,800 | 129,300 | 132,000 | 2,800 |
| Employed part time, est. number | 41,600 | 41,600 | 46,900 | 46,000 | 2,800 |
| Working hours | 39.2 | 38.7 | 38.9 | 39.3 | 0.7 |
| Working hours full time | 44.6 | 44.2 | 44.9 | 45.0 | 0.7 |
| Working hours part time | 22.7 | 21.7 | 21.8 | 22.1 | 1.0 |
| Inactive, est. number | 48,100 | 47,800 | 44,200 | 43,800 | 2,800 |
| Population , est. number | 224,100 | 224,600 | 228,800 | 229,600 | • |
| Figures may not add up because of rounding. | |||||
Implementation of the Labour Force Survey
The 4th quarter of 2014 covers 13 weeks, from 29th of September to 28th December. The total sample size was 3,942 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 3,837 persons. In total the number of usable answers was 3,061 corresponding to 79.8% response rate. All figures have been weighted by sex and age groups. The confidence limit of the results on activity rate is ±1.2%, employment rate is ±1.3%, unemployment rate ±0.8% and working hours ±0.7 hours.
Labour market statistics, 4th quarter 2014 - Statistical Series
Statistics