Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the unemployment rate for December 2008 - February 2009 was 3.6%, up by 0.2 percentage point over the previous period (November 2008 - January 2009); the underemployment rate was 1.7%, down by 0.1 percentage point over the previous period.

Total labour force was 332,000 in December 2008 - February 2009; the labour force participation rate was 72.4%, down by 0.5 percentage point over the previous period.

The employed population was 320,000, down by 5,900 from the previous period. By industry, the decrease in the number of the employed was more noticeable in the Manufacturing Sector and Recreational, Cultural, Gaming & Other Services.

The unemployed population was 12,000, an increase of 600 over the previous period. Among the unemployed, 11.6% (1,400) were fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job, down by 3.8 percentage points over the preceding period.

In comparison with December 2007 - February 2008, the unemployment rate and the underemployment rate went up by 0.7 and 0.1 percentage point respectively, while the labour force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage point.