The number of unemployed registered at the District Labour Offices reached 11,883 persons on the last day of July 2008, compared 12,191 in July 2007.

In the period January-July, unemployment dropped by 976 persons to 11,593 (using the averages of end-month data).

Substantial year-on-year falls were recorded across five sectors: manufacturing (down 236), construction (down 141), wholesale and retail trade (down 183), restaurants and hotels (down 156) and transport, storage and communications, (down 157).

For seasonal reasons unemployment in July was higher in July than in June, when 10,509 were registered unemployed.

The Statistical Service reported that this monthly increase was mainly recorded in the sectors of education, owing to the increase in registration by staff employed in private schools that temporarily close down for the summer season.

There was also an increase in registrants from public administration and trade.

Fiona Mullen,
August 07, 2008 - www.financialmirror.com