PRINCIPAL LABOUR FORCE SERIES TREND ESTIMATES


EMPLOYED PERSONS

The trend estimate of employed persons rose from 8,493,200 in November 1997 to 9,056,600 in September 2000. The trend then fell slightly to 9,037,400 in December 2000, before generally rising to stand at a high of 10,559,800 in November 2007.

UNEMPLOYED PERSONS

The trend estimate of unemployed persons generally fell from 743,300 in November 1997 to 583,000 in September 2000, before rising to 681,200 in October 2001. The trend then generally fell to 468,800 in July 2007 before rising slightly to stand at 484,600 in November 2007.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

The trend unemployment rate generally fell from 8.0% in November 1997 to 6.0% in September 2000. After rising to 7.0% in October 2001, the trend generally fell to 4.3% in July 2007 before rising slightly to stand at 4.4% in November 2007.