According to the results of the Employment Survey released by the Statistics and Census Service, unemployment rate for May - July 2006 was 3.9%, up slightly by 0.1 percentage point over April - June 2006, on account of the increasing number of job-seekers during the summer holiday period. However, the unemployment rate decreased by 0.3 percentage point compared with the same period of 2005. The underemployment rate was 1.1%, down by 0.1 and 0.4 percentage point respectively over the preceding period and the same period of 2005. About 1,300 unemployed persons were searching for their first job, representing 11.9% of the total unemployed population, up by 2.3 percentage points over the preceding period. Compared with the previous period, the unemployment situation was improved in the Hotel industry; Real estate, renting & business activities; and the Construction sector, but the situation was less favourable in Other community, social & personal service activities (except Gaming) and the Wholesale & retail trade. Total labour force was estimated at 278,000 in May - July 2006; the employed and the unemployed populations were 267,000 and 11,000 respectively. Labour force participation rate was 65.9%, up by 0.6 and 3.3 percentage points respectively over the preceding period and the same period of 2005.
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