The labour market data for the second quarter of 2005 in the A.C. of the Basque Country put the number of employed people at 930,200, 5,900 less than three months previously, -0.6%, according to Eustat data. On the other hand, the unemployment rate fell from 7.0%, seen in the last quarter, to 5.9%.

As regards the first quarter of 2005, the number of people out of work and the unemployment rate fell. As a result of the evolution of the employed and unemployed population, the activity rate stood at 54.3%, one point less than the previous quarter.

The youth unemployment rate descended by 4.1 percentage points

The female unemployment rate fell to 7.9% (-0.8 points), and so did the male rate, by 1.3 per cent. The youth unemployment rate descended by just over four points, with 10,200 active youths aged 16 -24 (14,1 %) affected by unemployment.

The number of unemployed women, some 32,700, diminished by 4,200. Among men, 7,800 left the numbers of the unemployed during the last quarter, leaving a total of 26,000. There was also a notable decrease among the 45 and over age bracket, with 5,200 less unemployed.

The unemployment rate for the A.C. of the Basque Country in the second quarter of 2005 was almost three per cent below that of the Euro Zone. According to EUROSTAT- the Statistical Office of the European Union-, the unemployment rate for this Zone in May 2005 stood at 8.8%. The overall rate for the European Union, with 25 countries, was identical to that of the Euro Zone.

Fall in the unemployment rates in Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia

The number of people out of work, which stood at 58,700 in the second quarter, fell in Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia and rose slightly in Álava. In Gipuzkoa, there were 13,400 people out of work, 7,000 less than three months previously, giving a rate of 4.1%. In Bizkaia, with a total of 39,800, there was a fall of 5,700 people, reducing the rate to 7.7%. In Álava there were 700 more people out of work than there were three months earlier, but it remained the province with the most positive rate (3.8%) of the three.

Bizkaia was largely responsible for the loss in net employment in the second quarter of 2005

The number of people employed in the A.C. of the Basque Country as a whole came to 930,200, 5,900 people less than three months previously. If this figure is corrected for seasonal effects, bearing in mind that this year Easter fell in the first quarter whereas last year it came in the second quarter, this fall is reduced by more than half, 2,800 less people in work.

By province, Bizkaia was largely responsible for the net loss in employment with 9,000 less jobs. Gipuzkoa showed a 3,000 increase in net jobs and figures for Álava were practically unchanged (+100 net jobs). Bearing gender in mind, only figures for women worsened, with 6,200 less employed than the previous quarter, while for men they were virtually unchanged.

Trend of the employed population since 1985. A.C. of the Basque Country. (In thousands)

Source: PRA, EUSTAT

The services sector lost 6,500 net jobs and agriculture another 2,300, while in industry and in construction the number of employed increased

In relation to the first quarter of 2005, there was a notable fall in the number of people employed in the services sector, with 6,500 less jobs, and in agriculture with another 2,300. Construction gained 1,900 jobs and industry 1,000.

The employment rate, the percentage of employed people aged 16 to 64 out of the total number between those ages, came to 64.5%, point four per cent less than three months earlier. For men this rate stood at 75.3%, whereas for women it was only 53.5%, losing almost one per cent in relation to the previous quarter.

By province, the highest occupation rate was that of Gipuzkoa, with 67.7% and an increase of half a point. It was followed by Álava with 67.3% and an increase of point four per cent. Bizkaia had the lowest rate, with 61.9% and a fall of 1.1 percentage points with regard to the first quarter of 2005.

In the second quarter of 2005 there were around 760,900 households in the A.C. of the Basque Country, of which almost a third had no active members. There were 12.100 households whose active members were all unemployed (1.6% of the total), 3,800 less than in the previous quarter.

Over the last year the services sector created 16,900 net jobs

The employed population grew over the twelve-month period by 5,000, 0.5% more. There was a slight rise in the female employment rate of point two per cent. In the case of men, this rise was point three per cent. By province, there was a notable rise in the rate of Gipuzkoa (0.6 per cent) in relation to the second quarter of 2004.

Over the year, the services sector created 16,900 net jobs. However, the primary sector and construction continued to lose weight, while industry levelled out.

The unemployment rate in the A.C. of the Basque Country fell by more than two per cent over the year

The unemployment rate descended 2.1 per cent over the year (from 8% to 5.9%), meaning that 21,900 people left the ranks of the jobless in the A.C. of the Basque Country.

SURVEY ON THE POPULATION IN RELATION TO ACTIVITY (PRA)

*p.p. = Difference in percentage points

Source: EUSTAT