Unemployment rate 4.3%
The number of persons in the labour force in the 1st quarter of 2015 was 187,300 corresponding to an activity rate of 81%. The number of employed persons was 179,200 while unemployed persons were 8,000. The employment rate was 77.5% and the unemployment rate was 4.3%. From the 1st quarter of 2014 the number of employed persons has increased by 7,800 and the employment rate increased by 2.7 percentage points. At the same time the number of unemployed persons fell by 2,500 and the unemployment rate decreased by 1.5 points. The unemployment rate among females was 4.4% and 4.2% among males. The average number of working hours of those who were working in the reference week was 39 hours, 44.7 hours for those in full-time employment and 22.2 hours for those in part-time employment.
Long-term unemployment
Those who have been unemployed for 12 months or more in 1st quarter of 2015 were 1,500 or 0.8% of the labour force. In the 1st quarter of 2014 long term unemployment persons were 1,700 or 0.9% of the labour force.
Persons classified as unemployed 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 | |||||
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | ||
| 1st Q | 1st Q | 1st Q | 1st Q | Conf.Int. ± | |
| Activity rate | 79.0 | 78.9 | 79.4 | 81.0 | 1.2 |
| Employment rate | 73.3 | 74.3 | 74.8 | 77.5 | 1.3 |
| Unemployment rate | 7.2 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 4.3 | 0.8 |
| Labour force, est. number | 175,800 | 178,300 | 181,900 | 187,300 | 2,800 |
| Unemployed, est. number | 12,600 | 10,300 | 10,500 | 8,000 | 1,500 |
| In employment, est. number | 163,200 | 167,900 | 171,400 | 179,200 | 3,100 |
| Employees est. number | 142,300 | 146,200 | 150,700 | 157,600 | 2,300 |
| Self-employed, est. number | 21,000 | 21,800 | 20,700 | 21,600 | 2,300 |
| Employed full time, est. number | 119,600 | 123,900 | 127,300 | 132,700 | 2,800 |
| Employed part time, est. number | 43,700 | 44,100 | 44,100 | 46,500 | 2,800 |
| Working hours | 39.9 | 38.2 | 38.9 | 39.0 | 0.7 |
| Working hours full time | 46.2 | 44.0 | 44.5 | 44.7 | 0.7 |
| Working hours part time | 22.1 | 21.3 | 22.0 | 22.2 | 1.0 |
| Inactive, est. number | 46,900 | 47,700 | 47,200 | 44,000 | 2,800 |
| Population , est. number | 222,700 | 226,000 | 229,100 | 231,300 | • |
| Figures may not add up because of rounding. | |||||
Implementation of the Labour Force Survey
The 1st quarter of 2015 covers 13 weeks, from 29th of December 2014 to 29th March 2015. The total sample size was 3,946 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 3,853 persons. In total the number of usable answers was 3,060 corresponding to 79.4% 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, 1st quarter 2015 - Statistical Series