27/11/2014: QNHS Q3 2014: Full-, Part-Time and Underemployed

Key summary of the previous posts covering QNHS for Q3 2014 is provided at the bottoms of the post.

In this post, lets take a look at labour force breakdown by employment status.

For all persons aged 15 and older, 1,860,000 were classified as at work in Q3 2014, up 1.7% (+31,000) on Q3 2013 and up 3.25% (+58,500 on Q1 2011).

Of the above, 1,453,000 were in full-time employment, which represents an increase of 2.07% y/y (+26,100) and an increase of 5.2% (+70,000) on Q1 2011.

Part-time employment numbers rose to 387,000 or +0.6% y/y (+2,300) and their numbers were up 1.58% (+6,000) compared to Q1 2011. Of these, numbers of those claiming not to be underemployed rose 6.25% y/y (+16,100) and were up 3.36% (+8,900) on Q1 2011. In employment but underemployed numbers were down significantly in Q3 2014, falling 10.84% y/y (-13,700) and by 2.42% (-2,800) on Q1 2011.

As the result of the above changes, full-time employment as the share of total employment rose to 78.1% in Q3 2014 compared to 77.9% in Q3 2013. This is still well below the historical average of 83%.

Key conclusions: Both full-time employment and total employment accelerated in Q3 2014 compared to Q4 2013-Q1 2014 dynamics, with most of the new jobs creation taking place in the category of full-time employment. Numbers of underemployed individuals fell. Which is very good news. However, as the proportion of total employment, full-time employment remains at the low levels.



Summary of previous posts:

1. Unemployment is falling across all durations and all demographic (age-defined) cohorts, but the pressure of long-term unemployment is rising in the cohort of older workers (40 years of age and older), 
2. Irish economy added 27,600 jobs in a year though Q3 2014 compared to Q3 2013. but only 17,300 of these jobs were private sector non-agricultural jobs. On longer-term trend: Non-agricultural Private Sector employment in Q3 2014 was 13.83 lower than 2008 average and Agricultural employment was 4.9% lower. In contrast, Public and State-controlled Sectors employment in Q3 2014 was 3.56% higher than 2008 average. 
3. Ireland's participation rate remains below historical average and despite a slight improvement in Q3 2014 compared to Q2 2014, labour force participation rate remains lower than for the same period in 2013. 
4. Total population over 15 years of age increased by 0.08% y/y and population at work was up 1.7% y/y (+31,000), marking a slowdown in the rate of growth from 2.17% y/y in Q2 2014 (+39,100). Numbers of those retired from employment rose to 416,700 - up 2.76% (+11,200) y/y and up 68,400 or +19.64% since Q1 2011. Q3 2014 dependency ratio was 40.34 individuals at work to 59.66 individuals not working for various reasons and remains higher than historical average.