The number of persons in the labour force in the 3rd quarter of 2013 was 188,500 which correspond to an activity rate of 82.7%. The number of employed persons was 180,200 and unemployed persons were 8,300. The employment rate was 79.1% and the unemployment rate was 4.4%. From the 3rd quarter of 2012 the number of employed persons increased by 7,500 and the number of unemployed persons decreased by 800. The unemployment rate among females was 4.3% and 4.5% among males. The average number of working hours of those who were working in the reference week was 41.8 hours, 45.9 hours for those in full-time employment and 24.5 hours for those in part-time employment.
Long-term unemployment
For the last five quarters number of long term unemployed has decreased. Those who have been unemployed for 12 months or more were 1.900 or 1% of the labour force. In the 3rd quarter of 2012 long term unemployment persons were 3.300.
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 3rd quarter | |||||
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | ||
| 3. Q | 3. Q | 3. Q | 3. Q | Conf.Int. ± | |
| Activity rate | 81.4 | 81.1 | 81.3 | 82.7 | 1.2 |
| Employment rate | 76.2 | 76.3 | 77.2 | 79.1 | 1.3 |
| Unemployment rate | 6.4 | 5.9 | 5.0 | 4.4 | 0.8 |
| Labour force, est. number | 182,000 | 182,600 | 181,800 | 188,500 | 2,600 |
| Employed, est. number | 170,300 | 171,900 | 172,700 | 180,200 | 2,900 |
| Unemployed, est. number | 11,700 | 10,700 | 9,100 | 8,300 | 1,500 |
| Employed full time, est. number | 131,200 | 134,500 | 135,600 | 144,000 | 2,700 |
| Employed part time, est. number | 39,000 | 37,300 | 37,100 | 36,200 | 2,700 |
| Working hours | 40.6 | 41.1 | 40.9 | 41.8 | 0.7 |
| Working hours full time | 45.5 | 45.7 | 45.3 | 45.9 | 0.7 |
| Working hours part time | 24.0 | 24.5 | 24.1 | 24.5 | 1.3 |
| Inactive, est. number | 41,500 | 42,600 | 41,800 | 39,300 | 2,600 |
| Population , est. number | 223,500 | 225,200 | 223,700 | 227,800 | • |
| Figures may not add up because of rounding. | |||||
Implementation of the Labour Force Survey
The 3rd quarter of 2013 covers 13 weeks, from 2nd of July to 29th of September 2013. The total sample size was 3,938 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 3,825 persons. In total the number of usable answers was 3,088 which correspond to 80.7% 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 is ±0.8% and working hours is ±0.7 hours.
Labour market statistics, 3rd quarter 2013 - Statistical Series