In that same period, the number of people in employment grew by 2.7%, representing an increase of 68,600 people. The total proportion of 15-64 year-olds in employment was 73.2%.

Meanwhile, 4.2%, or 112,000 people, were unemployed. The unemployment rate in the year previous was 4.9%.

Of all industries included in the CSO Labour Force Survey, the largest decrease in employment was in the Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing sector, which saw a drop in 6,100 employees (-5.7%).

Employment in the Communication and Information sector decreased by 2,200 (-1.3%) from the same quarter of 2021. Meanwhile, employment in the Professional, Scientific, & Technical Activities sector decreased by 2,600 employees (-1.5%).

The sectors with the strongest growth in employment numbers were Administrative and Support Service Activities (15.2%, or +14,500) and Transportation & Storage (7.1%, or 7,500).