According to the results of the Employment Survey released by the Statistics and Census Service, the unemployment rate for April-June 2007 dropped further to 3.0%, the lowest level since December 1997-February 1998 (3.1%).
The unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point over the previous period (March-May 2007) and by 0.8 percentage point over the same period of 2006. The underemployment rate was up by 0.1 percentage point over the previous period to 1.0%, but fell by 0.2 percentage point over the same period of 2006.
Total labour force was estimated at 305,600 in April-June 2007. Labour force participation rate was 68.7%, up by 0.7 percentage point over the preceding period and by 3.2 percentage points year-on-year.
The employed population was estimated at 296,400, an increase of about 5,000 over the previous period, principally induced by the increment of the number of persons working in Manufacturing; Hotels, restaurants & similar activities; and Wholesale & retail trade.
In addition, the unemployed population was estimated at 9,200, a decrease of 300 compared with the previous period. Among the unemployed, about 1,100 were searching for their first job, representing 11.6% of the total unemployed, and up by 5.0 percentage points over the preceding period.