The Department of Statistics and Research announces that it has published the Report "Labour Statistics" for 1996. The report provides data on employment, foreign workers in Cyprus, unemployment, vacancies notified and filled, rates of pay, earnings, hours of work and the consumer price index.

2. The main developments in the labour market during 1996 can be summarised as follows:

The slowdown in the rate of economic growth in 1996 compared to 1995 had a negative impact in the labour market. Employment increased by 1,0% which is basically due to tthe tertiary sector while some important sectors of the economy such as Agriculture, Construction and Manufacturing remained stagnant or showed a decrease. The number of Cypriots working temporarily abroad remained at the previous year’s level of 2.800, while foreign workers in Cyprus rose from 15.000 to 16.700 in 1996. Unemployment increased and accounted for 3,1% of the labour force. Vacancies notified to the District Labour Offices (DLOs) fell for the fourth year running and the drop was 12,4%. Placements filled through the DLOs remained as in 1995. The number of workdays lost from strikes fell substantially from 97.600 in 1995 to 7.700. A reduction in the rate of increase of wages and salaries was recorded for the fourth year running. Rates of pay increased by 6,1% in nominal terms from 6,6% in the previous year and in real terms (i.e. taking into account the increase of the Consumer Price Index) the increase was 3,1% from 3,9%.

3. The report is available from the Government Printing Office in Nicosia at the price of C£7,00.