Decreased labour force participation

Published:

The labour force participation rate decreased from the 4th quarter of 2016 to the 4th quarter of 2017. The decrease was less than in the previous quarters according to new figures in the Labour force survey.

The labour force participation rate among people aged 15-74 was 69.4 per cent in the 4rd quarter of 2017, down from 69.8 per cent in the same quarter the previous year. The figures on unemployed persons decreased by 15 000 in this period, while figures on employed persons increased by 20 000. During the same period, the population aged 15-74 increased by 28 000.

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
Q4-2006 71.8 75.3 68.1
Q4-2007 73.2 76.3 70
Q4-2008 73.4 76.4 70.4
Q4 -2009 71.8 74.6 68.9
Q4-2010 71.4 74.5 68.3
Q4-2011 71.3 74.3 68.3
Q4-2012 71 73.8 68.1
Q4-2013 70.9 73.3 68.3
Q4-2014 70.9 73.4 68.4
Q4-2015 70.7 73.3 67.9
Q4-2016 69.8 72.4 67.1
Q4-2017 69.4 72 66.8

The decrease in the participation rate applied to both men and women. The decrease in the participation rate was mainly among those aged 25-29.

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

Q4 2016 Q4 2017
15-19 years 37.7 37.7
20-24 years 67.7 68.3
25-29 years 83.3 80.9
30-34 years 85.9 85.3
35-39 years 88.5 88.4
40-44 years 88.2 88.2
45-49 years 85.8 86.1
50-54 years 83.4 83.2
55-59 years 81.6 80.6
60-66 years 58.6 58.9
67-74 years 12.1 11.7

More people with full-time work

The total number of employed people increased by 20 000 and people with full-time work increased by 19 000 from the 4th quarter of 2016 to the 4th quarter of 2017. The increase in employment was evenly distributed among men and women, while the increase in full-time work applied mainly to women.

Fewer underemployed people

From the 4th quarter of 2016 to the 4th quarter of 2017, the number of underemployed people decreased by 17 000, falling to 56 000. More than half of the underemployed were seeking full-time work.

Fall in unemployment

The number of unemployed people was reduced by 15 000 from the 4th quarter of 2016 to the 4th quarter of 2017. The fall in unemployment was both among men and women, mainly for those aged 25-54.

The average period of unemployment increased from 31,8 to 34,1 weeks last year.

One in three work outside ordinary hours

In 2017, 33 per cent of the employees worked outside of Monday-Friday from 6 am to 6 pm. Women and youths are overrepresented among those with this kind of work. Many of the women had shift work in human health and social services activities. Among the under-25s two in three women worked outside ordinary hours.

New estimation method from next quarter (Q1 2018)

In order to improve the precision of the main variables in LFS, we will from next quarter onwards use a new estimation method, which utilizes several administrative registers. The method also reduces more non-response bias. The new improved method will slightly reduce the numbers for employed persons and correspondingly increase the numbers for people outside the labour force. The number of unemployed persons is only marginally increased by improved methodology. New time series will be produced back to 2006. More information will be available on 26 April.