The number of 16–74 year olds in the labour force in the 4th quarter of 2018 was 203,700 corresponding to an activity rate of 80.5%. The number of employed persons was 198,900 while unemployed persons were 4,900. The employment rate was 78.6% and the unemployment rate 2.4%. The number of unemployed females was 2,100 corresponding to a 2.3% unemployment rate and 2,700 males were unemployed or 2.4% unemployment rate. Even though the number of employed persons has increased by 4,500 from the 4th quarter of 2017 the employment rate decreased by 0.5 percentage points. At the same time the number of unemployed increased slightly or by 300 and the unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 points.
Persons are classified as unemployed when they have no employment, are actively seeking a job and could start working within two weeks or have found a job which starts within three 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.
Average working hours
In the 4th quarter of 2018 the average number of persons at work in the reference week was 182,900, or 73.3% of the population 16–74 years old and 92.0% of all in employment. The average number of working hours for those at work was 38.3 hours, 43.4 hours for full-time employed and 23.0 hours for part-time employed.
Labour market statistics, 4th quarter 2018 - Statistical series