​​Report: ​Labour Market First Quarter 2016

This quarterly release analyses the labour market situation. Topics covered include unemployment, employment, redundancy, re-entry into employment, job vacancy, labour turnover and hours worked.

Key findings: Overall unemployment in March 2016 was unchanged from December 2015, and declined among residents and citizens. Unemployment rose among residents aged 30 and over, in particular, among the 50 and over for the fourth consecutive quarter. This increase was offset by the decline in unemployment rate for younger residents aged below 30 due to lower labour force participation rate among youths aged 15 to 24. Long-term unemployment rate rose, with increases across most education and age groups. Total employment grew more slowly in the first quarter of 2016 than the seasonally high growth in the fourth quarter of 2015, but higher than the contraction in first quarter 2015. As job openings trended lower, the ratio of job openings to job seekers moderated further. Layoffs declined, but were the highest first quarter redundancies since 2009.

For more key findings, please refer to the highlights of the report.