The full-time gainfully occupied population increased by 2,227 while unemployment decreased by 582 in August when compared to August 2006, the NSO said.

The labour supply increased by 1,645 persons over the same month in 2006 to 148,963 persons. Of these, the full-time gainfully occupied population amounted to 142,373 persons, whilst the registered unemployed amounted to 6,590.

The NSO said that in the year to August 2007, the economic activities which registered the main growth
in full-time employment were real estate, renting and business activities . Real estate, renting and business activities increased 1,545 persons. Among other activities, this sector includes accounting and auditing, security services and call centres.

A comparison of the figures of August 2006 and August 2007 also shows an expansion in the
activities of retail and wholesale trade, hotels and restaurants and health and social work activities. Retail and wholesale trade registered an increase of 300 persons, hotels and restaurants registered an increase of 356 persons, and health and social work activities registered an increase of 327 persons.

On the downside, the number of the gainfully occupied persons fell in manufacturing, transport, storage and communication sectors. Manufacturing dropped 704 persons, transport, storage and communication shed 287 and electricity, gas and water services dropped 134 persons.

On a year-on-year basis, part-time employment rose by 3,561. Among part-timers who also hold
a full-time job, there was an increase of 1,547 persons, whilst those having a part-time job as
their primary occupation went up by 2,014 persons.