In February-April 2012 the increase of the number of employed, which has been a trend of the past two years, continued in comparison to the same period of the previous year – the Central Statistics Office of Hungary (KSH) reported earlier today. The number of employed among the population aged 15-74 increased significantly by 52 000 from 3 million 759 thousand one year ago to 3 million 811 thousand. Therefore, the rate of employment increased to 49.7 percent. Among the population aged 15-64 the number of employed increased from 3 million 728 thousand one year ago to 3 million 776 thousand, by 48 000. Thereby the rate of employment in this segment has increased to 56.1 percent.

According to the latest labour market statistics of the KSH, in February-April 2012 it was for the 21st time that the number of employed increased on an annualized basis. In the age bracket of 15-74 years the number of employed increased by 1.4 percent (year/year), consequently the rate of employment for this age group increased from 48.9 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year to 49.7 percent. In the age bracket of 15-64 years there was also a dynamic rise of 1.3 percent with relation to employment numbers on a year-on-year basis.

As far as the gender aspect of employment is concerned, the rate of employment among men aged 15-64 increased by 1.3 percent to 61.4 percent in comparison to the same period of the previous year, whereas the rate increase for women was 1 percent (51.1 percent). Among men aged 15-64 years 2 million 27 thousand had a job, which is 21 200 more than in the corresponding period of 2011. The number of women with a job increased to 1 million 749 thousand. With regard to age groups, rate of employment for the most optimal working age (25-54 years) was 1.5 percent higher and for the population aged 55-64 years it was 0.4 percent higher.

Source: KSH

We consider it a tendency that in an unfavourable external market environment in the past two years there has been a steady year-on-year increase in the rate employment.

(Ministry for National Economy)