The number of employed among the population aged 15-64 increased from 3 701 thousand in the previous year to 3 756 thousand, by 55 000, and the rate employment thereby increased to 55.7 percent.

According to the latest labour market statistics of the KSH, in Q1 2012 on an annualized basis the number of employed increased for the twentieth time. Among the population aged 15-74 the number of employed rose by 1.6 percent (year/year), which is more than the 1.4 percent registered in the previous period, therefore the employment rate of this age group increased from 48.6 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year to 49.5 percent. Among the population aged 15-64 years the annual increase of 1.5 percent was also more than in the previous quarter.

As far as the gender aspect of employment is concerned, the rate of employment for men aged 15-64 increased by 1.2 percent to 60.8 percent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, whereas the employment rate for women increased by 0.9 percent to 50.8 percent which is on a par with the increase of the previous period. Out of men aged 15-64 years 2 million 13 thousand were employed, which is 26 000 more than in the corresponding period of 2011.

As for women, the number of employed increased to 1 million 743 thousand. With respect to age groups, the number of employed in the most optimal working age (25-54 years) increased by 1.6 percent and in the 55-64 age bracket by 0.2 percent.

The phenomenon that employment rates have been steadily increasing in the past year and a half in spite of unfavourable external market conditions we consider it a longer trend and a consequence of structural reforms.

(Ministry for National Economy)

Source: kormany.hu