PRINCIPAL LABOUR FORCE SERIES TREND ESTIMATES


EMPLOYED PERSONS

The trend estimate of employed persons rose from 8,597,500 in May 1998 to 9,056,500 in September 2000. The trend then fell slightly to 9,037,500 in December 2000, before generally rising to stand at a high of 10,705,300 in May 2008.

UNEMPLOYED PERSONS

The trend estimate of unemployed persons generally fell from 725,900 in May 1998 to 582,900 in September 2000, before rising to 681,000 in October 2001. The trend generally fell to 460,100 in February 2008, before rising slightly to stand at 465,500 in May 2008.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

The trend unemployment rate generally fell from 7.8% in May 1998 to 6.0% in September 2000. After rising to 7.0% in October 2001, the trend has generally fallen to stand at 4.2% in May 2008.