During the third quarter of 2010, 3 376 000 of the employed persons aged 15-74 were at work. This is an increase of 42 000 persons compared to the same period in 2009. Sick leave of at least one week dropped among employed persons by 16.4 percent. The number of persons outside the labour force due to sickness decreased by 55 000 and amounted to 380 000 persons.
At the same time as the publishing of this press release, the Labour Force Surveys is publishing a press release on the situation of temporary employees on the labour market.
The population
The population between the ages 15-74 amounted to 7 026 000 persons during the third quarter of 2010.
Persons at work
During the third quarter of 2010, 3 376 000 of the employed persons aged 15-74 were at work. This is an increase of 42 000 persons compared to the same period in 2009. This means that 48.1 percent of the population between the ages 15-74 were at work during the third quarter of 2010.
Employed persons, which includes the group persons at work as well as employed persons who were absent for the entire reference week, increased by 85 000 and amounted to 4 633 000 persons during the third quarter of 2010.
Persons not at work
The group of persons not at work consists of the subgroups employed and absent during at least one calendar week, unemployed and persons not in the labour force. These different subgroups amounted to a total of 3 650 000 persons aged 15-74, corresponding to 51.9 percent of the population. The reason for this high percentage is because the time period includes the summer months.
Sick leave dropped
Of the employed persons, 1 257 000 persons were absent from work for at least one entire week during the third quarter of 2010. This is an increase of 44 000 persons compared to the same quarter in 2009.
Sick leave among employed persons decreased by 15 000 persons during the third quarter of 2010 and amounted to 75 000 persons.
Unemployment dropped among men
390 000 persons, or 7.8 percent of the labour force between ages 15-74 were unemployed during the third the quarter of 2010. Among men the unemployment rate dropped by 0.6 percentage points and amounted to 7.8 percent.
Persons not in the labour force
The group not in the labour force includes individuals who are neither employed nor looking for work. During the third quarter of 2010, 2 004 000 persons aged 15-74 were outside the labour force. The number of sick persons outside the labour force dropped by 55 000 and amounted to 380 000 persons.