PRINCIPAL LABOUR FORCE SERIES TREND ESTIMATES


EMPLOYED PERSONS

The trend estimate of employed persons rose from 8,742,200 in June 1999 to 9,057,300 in September 2000. The trend fell slightly to 9,038,100 in January 2001 before generally rising to a high of 10,805,200 in November 2008. The trend has since fallen to 10,772,500 in June 2009.

UNEMPLOYED PERSONS

The trend estimate of unemployed persons fell from 647,700 in June 1999 to 583,000 in September 2000, before rising to 682,200 in October 2001. The trend generally fell to 460,500 in March 2008, before rising to stand at 668,400 in June 2009.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

The trend unemployment rate generally fell from 6.9% in June 1999 to 6.0% in September 2000, before rising to 7.0% in September 2001. The trend generally fell to an historical low of 4.1% in March 2008, before rising to stand at 5.8% in June 2009.