PRINCIPAL LABOUR FORCE SERIES TREND ESTIMATES


EMPLOYED PERSONS

The trend estimate of employed persons rose from 8,636,300 in July 1998 to 9,056,400 in September 2000. The trend then fell slightly to 9,037,500 in December 2000, before generally rising to stand at a high of 10,718,800 in July 2008.

UNEMPLOYED PERSONS

The trend estimate of unemployed persons generally fell from 729,200 in July 1998 to 582,800 in September 2000, before rising to 681,000 in October 2001. The trend generally fell to 459,600 in February 2008, before rising slightly to stand at 481,700 in July 2008.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

The trend unemployment rate generally fell from 7.8% in July 1998 to 6.0% in September 2000, before rising to 7.0% in October 2001. The trend generally fell to 4.1% in February 2008, before rising slightly to stand at 4.3% in July 2008.