There was an annual increase in employment of 2.4% or 48,100 in the year to the second quarter of 2017, bringing total employment to 2,063,000. This compares with an annual increase of 3.5% or 68,600 in employment in the previous quarter and an increase of 2.9% or 56,200 in the year to Q2 2016.
Summary points for Q2 2017
The increase in total employment of 48,100 in the year to Q2 2017 was represented by an increase in full-time employment of 77,800 (+5.0%) and a decrease in part-time employment of 29,700 (-6.4%). See table 1 and fig 1.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, employment increased by 3,300 (+0.2%) over the previous quarter. This follows on from a seasonally adjusted increase in employment of 14,700 (+0.7%) in Q1 2017, an increase of 15,800 (+0.8%) in Q4 2016, an increase of 14,100 (+0.7%) in Q3 2016 and an increase of 23,400 (+1.2%) in Q2 2016. See table 3.
Unemployment decreased by 46,300 (-24.7%) in the year to Q2 2017 bringing the total number of persons unemployed to 141,500. This is the twentieth quarter in succession where unemployment has declined on an annual basis. See table 1.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 6.8% to 6.2% over the quarter, while the seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed decreased by 12,200 to 136,700. See table 3.
The long-term unemployment rate decreased from 4.4% to 3.1% over the year to Q2 2017. Long-term unemployment accounted for 48.7% of total unemployment in Q2 2017 compared with 51.1% a year earlier and 56.1% in the second quarter of 2015. This is the first time since Q3 2010 that long term unemployment has accounted for less than 50% of total unemployment. See table 6.
The total number of persons in the labour force in the second quarter of 2017 was 2,204,500, representing an increase of 1,800 (+0.1%) over the year. This compares with an annual labour force increase of 32,800 (+1.5%) in Q2 2016. The number of persons not in the labour force in Q2 2017 was 1,477,400, an increase of 42,500 (+3.0%) over the year. See table 1.
After each Census of Population the sample of households for the QNHS is updated to ensure the sample remains representative. The new sample based on the 2011 Census of Population was introduced incrementally from Q4 2012 to Q4 2013. An additional new sample also based on the 2011 Census of Population has been introduced incrementally from Q3 2016. These changes in sample can lead to some level of variability in estimates, particularly at more detailed levels and some caution is warranted in the interpretation of trends involving the period of their introduction.
Users should also note that effective from Q3 2017, the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is being replaced by a new Labour Force Survey (LFS). Further information is available in the background notes and information note.
