Decreased labour force participation

Published:

The labour force participation rate decreased from the 3rd quarter of 2016 to the 3rd quarter of 2017. The decrease applied to most of the age groups according to new figures in the Labour force survey.

The labour force participation rate among people aged 15-74 was 70.1 per cent in the 3rd quarter of 2017, down from 71.2 per cent in the same quarter the previous year. The figures on unemployed persons decreased by 23 000 in this period, but without any increase in the figures on employed persons. During the same period, the population aged 15-74 increased by 30 000.

Figure 1. Persons (15-74 years) in the labour force, by gender. In per cent of the population in each group

Both sexes Males Females
Q3-2006 72.4 76 68.8
Q3-2007 73.1 76.4 69.8
Q3-2008 74.3 77.6 70.9
Q3-2009 72.6 75.5 69.7
Q3-2010 71.9 75 68.8
Q3-2011 71.8 74.5 68.9
Q3-2012 71.6 74.4 68.7
Q3-2013 71.5 74.2 68.8
Q3-2014 71.3 73.9 68.5
Q3-2015 71.6 74.3 68.8
Q3-2016 71.2 73.8 68.4
Q3-2017 70.1 72.6 67.5

The decrease in the participation rate applied to both men and women. Among men, the decrease was mainly among those aged 25-54.

Figure 2. Persons (15-74 years) in the labour force, by age. In per cent of the population in each group

Q3 2016 Q3 2017
15-19 years 41.8 39.9
20-24 years 71.4 71.8
25-29 years 84.7 83.3
30-34 years 87.2 85.6
35-39 years 88.2 87.7
40-44 years 88.8 87.8
45-49 years 87.6 86.1
50-54 years 84.8 83.6
55-59 years 80.8 80.8
60-66 years 59.5 59.3
67-74 years 12.8 12.1

Fewer underemployed people

There were only small changes in the number of employed people with full-time and part-time work from the 3rd quarter of 2016 to the 3rd quarter of 2017. During the same period, the number of underemployed people decreased by 16 000, falling to 57 000 in the 3rd quarter of 2017. More than half of the underemployed were seeking full-time work.

 

Fall in unemployment

The unemployment rate among men fell from 5.2 to 4.4 per cent from the 3rd quarter of 2016 to the 3rd quarter of 2017. For women, the rate was 3.9 per cent in the 3rd quarter of 2017, down from 4.6 per cent a year earlier.

The average period of unemployment increased from 28.4 to 32 weeks last year.