According to the Population Survey in Relation to Activity (PRA) published by Eustat, data for the second quarter of 2003 for the labour market in the A.C. of the Basque Country reveal a figure for employed persons of 895,200, 0.9% higher than the previous quarter. Unemployment fell from the estimated 9.1% of the previous quarter, to 8.4%.

With regard to the previous quarter, the number of unemployed persons fell by 5,900 and the unemployment rate has fallen by 0.6 points since March. As a result of these changes in the employed and unemployed population, the activity rate reached 54.5%.

The unemployment rate fell by more than half a point between March and June

Unemployment rates fell in the three Provinces, albeit to different degrees. Alava and Gipuzkoa reached practically the same level of unemployment (7.7% and 7.8%, respectively), due to a fall of 1.2 points in the former; Gipuzkoa registering a fall of 6 tenths. Bizkaia, which registered a drop of similar proportions (6 tenths lower), maintains the highest level of unemployment (9,1%).

The male unemployment rate fell to 6.2%, by almost one percentage point, and the female unemployment rate, although considerably higher (11.5%), fell by 3 tenths. Unemployment amongst young persons increased by one tenth, representing more than one in every five active persons between the ages of 16 and 24 (22.4%).

Unemployment rate in the A.C. of Euskadi stands at 4 decimal points below the figure for the Euro Zone.

According to EUROSTAT –Statistics Office of the European Union- countries in the Euro Zone had an average unemployment rate of 8.8%, 4 tenths higher than the A.C. of the Basque Country in this 2nd quarter of 2003. As at other times, the joint rate for the European Union (8.1%) is lower than that of the Euro Zone.

Only one in ten people who left the unemployment register were women

The group of unemployed males, which stands at 35,500, fell by 5,300. Only 700 women left the unemployment register during the last quarter, leaving a total of 47,000. Although both groups fell in number, there are still significant differences. The fall in the 25 to 44 age group stands out, with 5,900 fewer unemployed as does the 16-24 age group (-1,200).

The number of unemployed persons, estimated at 82,600 in this 2nd quarter, fell in all three provinces. Bizkaia registered 2,400 fewer unemployed, leaving the number of unemployed persons standing at 45,700. In Gipuzkoa 25,500 people are estimated to be unemployed, 1,700 fewer than three months ago. In Alava, 11,400, are unemployed this number having fallen by 1,800.

On the other hand, the number of unemployed aged 45 or over has increased (+1,300), as has the number of people who have been looking for work for longer than 2 years (+1,200).

7,800 jobs were created in the A.C. of the Basque Country due, above all, to the Service sector

The number of employed persons stands at 895,200, 7,800 more than three months ago. Employment increased in all three provinces, with Gipuzkoa obtaining the best results, with 5,000 new jobs. Alava increased by 1,800 and the increase in Bizkaia affected 1,000 people.

Two out of three people who found employment were women

The increase in the employed population in the A.C. of the Basque Country, has affected both men and women, but the latter have undergone a notable change in employment terms with 5,200 more employed than in the previous quarter.

With regard to the first quarter of 2003, the most significant increase in the number of employed persons is to be found in the Service sector which gained 7,800 more employees. In the other sectors changes are minimal: Construction employed 800 more people and Industry and Agriculture fell in employment by 700 and 100 respectively.

The employment rate, the percentage of persons employed from the total population aged between 16 and 64, stands at 63.3%, 7 percentage decimal points more than three months ago. This rate for men reaches 74.9%, while the rate for women stands at 51.6%.

The Provincial breakdown reveals that Alava still has the highest employment rate with 67.7%, having increased by just over one point. Gipuzkoa follows with 66.7% and an increase of 1.2 percentage points. Bizkaia has the lowest rate, with 60.1%, and a slight increase (+0.3 percentage points) on the first quarter of 2003.

When considering households, 5,100 more have all their active household members in employment, significantly changing the number of households in which all the household members are unemployed (+700 households). The fall in the households with no active members also stands out (-8,800).

Throughout the last year, the employment rate has increased by 2.4 percentage points for women and fallen by almost one point for men

The employed population grew in number in comparison to the second quarter of 2002 by 6,800, representing 0.8%. There was an increase in the female employment rate of 2.4 percentage points; while amongst the male population there was a fall of almost one point. The Provincial breakdown revealed the following: Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa improved their employment rate by around one percentage point during the last twelve months, while in Alava this increase was of four decimal points.

Industry continued to lose ground in employment terms, with 8,200 fewer employees, while the increase in employment in the Service sector stands out with 7,900 more employees. During this period the employment rate increased by seven decimal points.

The unemployment rate increased by less than one point during the last twelve months

Unemployment increased by 0.9 percentage points, approximately one and half points more in the case of men, while the rate for women fell by one tenth. Youth unemployment increased by 5.4 percentage points. By Provinces, Gipuzkoa (+1,9 percentage points) and Alava (+0.8) both reflected increases. In Bizkaia the rate hardly changed reflecting only a slight increase of 2 decimal points.

POPULATION SURVEY IN RELATION TO ACTIVITY (PRA)

Source: EUSTAT