Unemployment down again, professional activity up

Employment and professional activity rates on the rise, a drop in the number of the unemployed and unemployment at 4.7% – it is what the labour market situation in the thirdquarter this year looked like according to preliminary data from the latest Labour Force Survey.

"It is another survey in a row according to which the labour market situation is good. We are very pleased that the employment rate is rising, and that both the number of the unemployed and the unemployment rate are falling. I hope that these tendencies continue," said Elżbieta Rafalska, Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy.

Professional activity growth

According to LFS data, the professional activity rate in the third quarter this year was 56.7%. It is 0.4 percentage points more than in the same period last year. The largest increase in the professional activity rate was recorded in Opolskie and Wielkopolskie voivodeships (by 1.8 and 1.7 percentage points).

Employment rate on the rise

The employment rate is rising as well. It was 54% in the thirdquarter this year. It is about 1 percentage point more than in the same period last year and, at the same time, 0.1 percentage point more than in the second quarter this year. Compared to the previous quarter, a larger increase in the employment rate is most often recorded in 45-59/64 and 60/65+ age groups. The increase here is respectively 0.7 and 0.4 percentage points.

Employment by region

Compared to the second quarter this year, the largest increase in the employment rate was recorded in Opolskie and Pomorskie voivodeships (by 0.9 percentage points in both cases). Compared to the third quarter of 2016, a larger increase in the employment rate was recorded in Opolskie (up by 2.2%) and Wielkopolskie voivodeships (up by 2.3%).

More employees

The number of employees in the third quarter this year was 16 million 510 thousand. Compared to the corresponding period last year, it increased by 244 thousand, including 79 thousand women and 165 thousand men.

Growth in the service sector

The number of employees in the service sector increased compared to the previous quarter. Their group grew by 149 thousand.

Employment status

In terms of the employment status, the largest increase was recorded for assisting family members. Their number in the third quarter this year was 472 thousand. Compared to the previous quarter, the number of assisting family members increased by 25 thousand (5.6%). The number of employees from the "employers and self-employed" group increased as well. Their number in the third quarter this year was 2 million 925 thousand, i.e. 43 thousand more than between April and June.

Number of the unemployed significantly down

According to the LFS, the number of the unemployed in the last quarter of 2016 fell below 1 million. Between April and June this year, their number dropped to 863 thousand. In the thirdquarter this year, it continued to fall and reached 818 thousand.

Record-low unemployment rate

The unemployment rate calculated according to the LFS methodology is record low. In the first three months this year, it was 5.4%, while in the second quarter – 5%. Between July and September, however, it fell to 4.7%. By comparison, the unemployment rate in the corresponding periods last year and two years ago was respectively 5.9% and 7.1%. The largest drop in the unemployment rate in relation to the second quarter this year was recorded in Lubuskie and Wielkopolskie voivodeships (by 0.8 percentage point in both regions), and the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (by 0.5 percentage point).

Low registered unemployment

At the end of the third quarter this year, the number of the unemployed registered in a labour office was 1 million 117 thousand. It was thus 35 thousand lower than three months ago and, at the same time, 207 thousand lower than in the corresponding period last year.