The working population in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country stands at 959,700, 17,200 more than three months before, according to Eustat data. With regard to sex, the improvement affects both males and females, the former improving more so, with 14,800 more workers than the previous quarter. Employment increased in all three provinces: Bizkaia with 12,900 net jobs more, followed by Gipuzkoa with 2,900 jobs and, finally, Álava with 1,400 more jobs.

Trend in the working population since 1985. A.C. of the Basque Country. (Thousand)

Source: EUSTAT

Industry has led in the creation of net employment over the last three months

With regard to the second quarter of 2006, there was an important increase in the number of industry workers, with 8,900 more employees, thus continuing the generation of net employment that began the previous quarter. Secondly was services with another 7,600 jobs, followed by the primary sector with 1,600 more jobs. Construction lost 800 net jobs.

The employment rate, percentage of persons employed aged 16 to 64 on the total of these ages, came to 66.8%, 1.2% more than three months before. This rate for males was 76.5%, while for females it only represented 56.9%.

By provinces the highest employment rate corresponded to Gipuzkoa with 69.7% and a point six increase; followed by Álava with 68.8% and a point six percent increase; Bizkaia has the lowest rate, with 64.6%, but it is the province that presents the highest increase, 1.7 percentage points.

In the third quarter of 2006 it was estimated there were 786,300 households in the A.C. of the Basque Country, a third of which did not have an active person. In over 6 out of every 10 households all active persons are employed, 13,700 more than the previous quarter.

The unemployment rate stands at less than 4%

Data for the third quarter of 2006 on the labour market in the A.C. of the Basque Country offered an unemployment rate that was point six percent below the previous quarter and coming to 3.6%, reducing the number of unemployed by 5,000.

In relation to the third quarter of 2006, and as a result of the evolutions of the working and unemployed population, the activity rate rose by 0.7 percentage points and stood at 54.7% in the third quarter of 2006.

Drop in both the female and male unemployment rates

The female unemployment rate fell to 4.2% (0.4 percentage points lower) and the male rate fell by point seven percent. The youth unemployment rate rose by 0.7%, affecting unemployment with 4,500 active youths aged 16 to 24 (6.6%).

The group of unemployed women, which affected 17,600 persons, fell by 1,500. In the same way, among males, 3,500 left unemployment in the last quarter, a situation which affected a total of 18,600.

The unemployment rate in the A.C. of the Basque Country in the first quarter of 2006 was 4.3 percentage points below the rate for countries in the Euro zone. According to EUROSTAT- Statistics Office of the European Union-, in August 2006 in this geographic area the unemployment rate remained stable at 7.9%. The rate for the whole of the European Union, taking into consideration the 25 member countries, fell to 8%.

Drop in the unemployment rate in all three provinces

The number of unemployed, i.e. persons who are seeking employment, take active measures to find work and in addition are available to work, is estimated to be 36,200 in the third quarter, 5,000 persons fewer than three months before. By provinces, in Álava, with a total of 4,600, there was a decrease of 500 persons, the rate falling to 3.1%, in Bizkaia there were 22,800 unemployed, 3,400 fewer than three months before, but with a less favourable rate (4.4%) and, in Gipuzkoa it was estimated 1,300 persons fewer unemployed than three months before and with the most favourable rate of the three provinces (2.6%).

Over the last year the services sector created 7,900 net jobs

The working population has grown over the last twelve months by 12,400 persons, 1.3% more. There was a 1.8 percentage point increase in the female employment rate, while among males the rate rose by point two. In the three provinces the employment rates increased: Bizkaia (1.5 percentage points), Gipuzkoa (0.7) and Álava (0.1), with regard to the third quarter of 2005.

During the last year, the services sector created 7,900 net jobs, industry created 4,600 and the primary sector another 3,300. However, the construction sector lost 3,500 jobs.

The unemployment rate fell 1.4 percentage points over the last year in the A.C. of the Basque Country

The unemployment rate over the last year fell by 1.4 percentage points (from 5% to 3.6%), by which 13,200 persons had abandoned unemployment in the A.C. of the Basque Country over the year. By provinces reduced Bizkaia unemployment rates over the last twelve months (2.2 percentage points fewer), Gipuzkoa (0.8 percentage points fewer), while in Álava the rate increased by point seven percent.

SURVEY ON THE POPULATION IN RELATION TO ACTIVITY (PRA)

*p.p. = Difference in percentage points

Source: EUSTAT