Employment in the second half of 2017 is the highest of the last 10 years in the Azores
The Vice-President of the Government pointed out in Angra do Heroísmo the "very strong growth" of employment in 2017, corresponding to 3,968 more Azorean workers. According to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), this figure was the highest of the last 10 years.
"In the second half of 2017, we registered the highest number of Azorean workers of the last 10 years. This clearly demonstrates, on the one hand, the employment growth and, on the other hand, a very consistent reduction of unemployment," stressed Sérgio Ávila.
Speaking to journalists, the Vice-President pointed out that these data "are still more relevant" when there is an expected "sharp reduction in employment" in the last quarter of the year due to seasonality.
According to the government official, "the number of employees is the highest of the last 10 years and the number of unemployed is the lowest of the last seven years."
"This is all the more relevant when - as some people mistakenly say that the reduction of unemployment is due to occupational programmes - there are 3,968 more Azorean workers in 2017, while there 1066 fewer Azoreans enrolled in occupation programmes," said Sérgio Ávila.
For the Vice-President, these figures clearly "demonstrate that the growth of employment result from the growth of economic activity."
The unemployment rate in the Azores was at 8.3% in the fourth quarter of 2017, which represents a reduction of more than 19% in the number of unemployed compared to the same period of the previous year.
According to INE data, the employed population grew in all sectors of activity compared to the same quarter of the previous year (+ 17% in primary sector, + 3.8% in secondary sector and + 2% in tertiary sector).