Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the unemployment rate for June-August 2009 was 3.8%, up by 0.1 percentage point over the previous period (May-July), while the underemployment rate held stable at 1.9%.

Total labour force was 331,400 in June-August 2009, with the employed population decreased by 1,700 from the previous period to 318,800. Analyzed by industry, employment of Retail Trade and Construction saw decrease, while employment of Restaurants & Similar Activities registered an increase.

In June-August 2009, number of the unemployed increased by 400 over the preceding period to 12,600, with 13.8% (1,700) being fresh labour force entrants searching for the first job, up by 2.4 percentage points from May-July 2009.

In comparison with June-August 2008, the unemployment rate and the underemployment rate went up by 0.8 and 0.3 percentage point respectively. In addition, the labour force participation rate (72.6%) fell by 0.2 percentage point from the previous period and 0.6 percentage point year-on-year.