1. From the data collected between October and December 2007, the unemployment rate for the fourth quarter of 2007 is estimated at 7.2%, lower than the rate of 8.2% at both the previous quarter and the fourth quarter of 2006. Unemployment rate for the year 2007 is estimated at 8.5% against 9.1% in 2006.

2. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the fourth quarter of 2007 works out to 7.9%, lower than the rate of 8.6% at the previous quarter of 2007 and 8.9% at the fourth quarter of 2006.

3. The table below gives the main estimates of labour force, employment and unemployment

		4th Quarter  2006	Year 2006	3rd Quarter    2007	4th Quarter   2007	Year 2007
Labour Force		539,800	548,400	552,500	546,100	548,900
	Male	349,800	351,400	354,600	352,400	353,600
	Female	190,000	197,000	197,900	193,700	195,300
Employment		495,800	498,600	507,400	506,800	502,100
	Male	334,600	332,200	338,000	338,100	335,000
	Female	161,200	166,400	169,400	168,700	167,100
Unemployment		44,000	49,800	45,100	39,300	46,800
	Male	15,200	19,200	16,600	14,300	18,600
	Female	28,800	30,600	28,500	25,000	28,200
Unemployment rate (%)
	Both Sexes	8.2	9.1	8.2	7.2	8.5
	Male	4.4	5.5	4.7	4.1	5.3
	Female	15.2	15.5	14.4	12.9	14.4

4. The main characteristics of the unemployed at the fourth quarter of 2007 were:

(i) The 39,300 unemployed comprised 14,300 males (36%) and 25,000 females (64%).

(ii) Around 14,900 or about 38% of the unemployed were below 25 years.

(iii) Around half (18,900) of the unemployed were single. Among males, the majority (11,700 or 82%) was single while among females, the majority (17,800 or 71%) was ever married (including widowed, divorced or separated).

(iv) Some 8,900 or 23% had not reached the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) level or equivalent and a further 18,700 (48%) did not have the Cambridge School Certificate (SC) or equivalent.

(v) Around 10,400 (26%) had been looking for work for more than one year.

(vi) About 26,600 (68%) had working experience and 12,700 (32%) were looking for a job for the first time.

(vii) Around 14,000 (36%) were registered at the Employment Service.

(viii) There were 7,100 (18%) young persons aged 16 to 24 years, not yet married and looking for a first job. Some 3,900 (55%) of them had not passed SC.

(ix) Ever married (including widowed, divorced or separated) unemployed persons aged 25 to 44 years and having worked before numbered 10,900. Among them, about 8,700 (80%) had not passed SC.

(x) 3,000 or 8% of the unemployed were heads of households.

(xi) 3,700 (9%) lived in households with no employed persons.

March 2008