Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that employment situation showed continuous improvement. The unemployment rate for November 2009 - January 2010 was 3.0%, down by 0.1 percentage point from October-December 2009; the underemployment rate was 1.7%, down by 0.2 percentage point. Total labour force was 321,400 in November 2009 - January 2010 and the labour force participation rate stood at 70.8%, with the employed population decreasing slightly by 500 over the previous period to 311,900. Analyzed by industry, employment of the Manufacturing Sector and Restaurants & Similar Activities increased from the previous period, while that of Wholesale & Retail Trade registered a decrease. In November 2009 - January 2010, number of the unemployed decreased by about 400 from the previous period to 9,500, with 10.0% (960) being fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job, down by 0.7 percentage point. In comparison with November 2008 - January 2009, the labour force participation rate dropped by 2.1 percentage points; meanwhile, the unemployment rate and the underemployment rate fell by 0.4 and 0.1 percentage point respectively.
