Labour Force comparison 2012 - 2017

Estimates for the Labour Force Survey indicate that the activity rate increased from 63.9 per cent in 2012 to 72.2 per cent in 2017, figures by the National Statistics Office revealed.

“This growth was mainly attributed to the increase in female participation in the labour force. In fact, between 2012 and 2017, the male activity rate increased by 4.9 percentage points, while the rate for females increased by 11.4 percentage points,” the National Statistics Office statement read.

In terms of employment characteristics in 2017, out of every 100 persons between 15 and 64 years of age, 69 were employed. Results also indicate an increase of 9.3 percentage points in the employment rate between 2012 and 2017. The employment rates for males and that for females increased by 6.1 and 12.3 percentage points respectively.

In 2017, among those having a main job, 29.6 per cent were between 25 and 34 years old and a further 25.3 per cent were between 35 and 44 years old. During 2017, the share of females working on a full-time basis was 74.9 per cent, indicating an increase of 1.1 percentage points when compared to 2012 levels.

During the period under review, the unemployment rate dropped by 2.2 percentage points, from 6.2 per cent in 2012 to four per cent in 2017. Across all years, the highest number of unemployed persons was recorded in the 15 to 24 age category.