The figures in this statistical news release are based on collected data that contains quality deficiencies. Revised LFS figures have been published and are available here:

Labour Force Surveys

In October 2018, there were 5 149 000 employed persons aged 15─74, not seasonally adjusted, which was an increase of 108 000 compared with October 2017. The number of employed women was 2 441 000 and the number of employed men increased by 80 000 to 2 708 000. The employment rate increased by 1.0 percentage points to 68.9 percent. The employment rate was 66.4 percent for women and increased by 1.5 percentage points to 71.2 percent for men. Smoothed and seasonally adjusted data shows an increase in the number of employed persons and in the employment rate compared with recent months. In October 2018, there were 5 133 000 employed persons, which corresponds to an employment rate of 68.7 percent.

The number of employees aged 15─74 increased by 108 000 to 4 654 000 in October 2018, compared with October 2017, not seasonally adjusted. Among women, the number of employees was 2 301 000 and among men the number increased by 73 000 to 2 354 000. The number of permanent employees increased by 125 000 to 3 909 000 in the same period. Among men, the number of permanent employees increased by 79 000 to 2 021 000. Among women, the number of permanent employees increased by 45 000 to 1 888 000. There were 745 000 temporary employees. Compared with nearby months, smoothed and seasonally adjusted data shows an increase in the total number of employees. The number of permanent employees increased and the number of temporary employees showed minor changes.

On average, the number of hours worked in October 2018 amounted to 178.4 million per week, not seasonally adjusted, an increase of 3.0 percent in calendar adjusted figures. Smoothed and seasonally adjusted data shows an increase in the number of hours worked per week compared with recent months. On average, the number of hours worked amounted to 156.3 million per week in October 2018.

In October 2018, the number of unemployed persons aged 15─74 decreased by 34 000 to 302 000, not seasonally adjusted. This corresponds to an unemployment rate of 5.5 percent, which was a decrease of 0.8 percentage points. There were 143 000 unemployed women and 160 000 unemployed men, a decrease of 23 000. The unemployment rate decreased by 0.9 percentage points to 5.6 percent among men and amounted to 5.5 percent among women. Among young persons aged 15─24 there were 84 000 unemployed persons, of whom 49 000 were full-time students. The unemployment rate among young people was 14.4 percent. Among persons aged 15–74, smoothed and seasonally adjusted data shows minor changes in both the number of unemployed persons and the unemployment rate compared with nearby months. There were 347 000 unemployed persons in October 2018, which corresponds to an unemployment rate of 6.3 percent. Among young persons aged 15─24, smoothed and seasonally adjusted data also shows minor changes in the number of unemployed persons and an increase in the unemployment rate. There were 105 000 unemployed young persons, which corresponds to an unemployment rate of 17.0 percent.

2018-12-13 at 9:30.