Results of the Employment Survey for November 2005 – January 2006

According to the results of the Employment Survey released by the Statistics and Census Service, unemployment rate for November 2005 - January 2006 dropped by 0.1 percentage point over October - December 2005 to 3.9%, and down by 0.3 percentage point compared with November 2004 - January 2005. The underemployment rate was 1.1%, down by 0.3 and 0.1 percentage point respectively compared with October - December 2005 and November 2004 - January 2005. Number of the unemployed searching for their first job was about 900, which represented 8.7% of the total unemployed population, down by 1.9 percentage points over October - December 2005. Compared with October - December 2005, the unemployment situation continued to improve in Recreational, cultural, gaming & other service activities; Wholesale & retail trade; and Hotels, restaurants & similar activities, while the situation for the other sectors was similar to that of October - December 2005. Total labour force was estimated at 260,000 in November 2005 - January 2006; the employed and the unemployed populations were 250,000 and 10,000 respectively. Labour force participation rate was 64.2%, down by 0.1 percentage point compared with October - December 2005, but up by 1.4 percentage points over November 2004 - January 2005.