Labour force survey, seasonally-adjusted figures, April 2007

Adjusted for seasonal variations, the LFS shows that the number of employed people increased by 16 000 from January (as measured by the average of the three months from December to February) to April (as measured by the average of the three months from March to May).

Unemployment unchanged

The unemployment rate stood at 2.7 per cent of the labour force in April (as measured by the average of the three months from March to May), unchanged from January (as measured by the average of the three months from December to February). The unemployment rate peaked at 4.9 per cent in mid-2005, and has fallen steadily since. It is now at the same level as the previous low in early 1999.

Seasonally adjusted figures of people registered unemployed with the Labour and Welfare Organisation (NAV), show a decline of 4 000 from January to April.

Man-weeks worked

From January (as measured by the average of the three months from December to February) to April (as measured by the average of the three months from March to May) the average number of man-weeks (37.5 hours) worked each week increased by 6 000 adjusted for seasonal variations. This is inside the error margin of the LFS.

Unemployment still falling in Germany

In April, the unemployment rate stood at 6.7 per cent in Germany, down 0.9 percentage points from January. In France, the unemployment rate fell from 8.9 per cent to 8.6 per cent in the same period. The unemployment rate for the EU15 fell from 7 per cent to 6.8 per cent. In Sweden the unemployment rate fell from 6.5 to 6.2 percent over the same period. In Denmark, the UK and the US the unemployment rate was stable. (All figures refer to seasonally adjusted data from Eurostat .)

Tables:

• Table 1. Employment and unemployment for persons aged 16-74 years, seasonally adjusted, three-months moving average. Absolute figures in 1000 and unemployed persons in per cent of the labour force.