Kosovo Agency of Statistics (KAS), through this press release, provides to users of official statistics main results of the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for the first quarter (Q1) 2016.

The survey was spread in 591 enumeration areas in the whole country, which surveyed 3 702 households, selected randomly from the frame of the Population, Households and Dwellings Census 2011. Households selected for the survey, except that they had a survey, they had three other re-surveys, in accordance with the reference period.

This publication contains detailed data on employment and unemployment according to age, gender, employment status, economic activity, occupation and other similar issues dealing with the labor market.

According to the results derived from this publication, two thirds of the population in Kosovo are in the working age population, and this population includes population 15-64 years of age. Within the working age population, the participation rate in the workforce is 35.2%.

The employment rate in the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for the first quarter (Q1) 2016 is 25.5%. Employment is higher to males, 38.6%; while employment among females is 12.2%. Females are employed mainly in the sectors of education, trade and health care with about 51%, while males are mainly employed in the manufacturing, trade and construction with about 44%.

Economic sectors leading with employment continue to be: trade with 16.2%; manufacturing 13.7%; education with 11.8%; and construction by 8.9%. While other sectors participate with the smallest percentage in employment.

Regarding employment under working contracts, it appears that 29.2% of employed persons have a permanent working contracts in their main job, while 70.8% have temporary working contracts.

According to the results of the LFS, in Q1 2016 the unemployment rate was 27.7%. Unemployment is more pronounced to females with 30.0% compared with males which is 26.9%. More pronounced rate of unemployment is for the age group 15-24 of with 53.8%.  

According to the results of the LFS, in Q1 2016 the inactive labour force is quite high, 64.8%, with a particular focus on females at 82.6%, compared to males at 47.2%.

For the realization of LFS Q1 2016, the methodology and standards applied by KAS are harmonized with the Eurostat recommendations. This is the first time that KAS publishes quarterly data from the LFS. These data on a quarterly basis are published by KAS due to great interest of the users of official statistics and data are considered preliminary. KAS, within its budget possibilities, is continuously making efforts to build capacities and publish sustainable and qualitative statistics.

KAS thanks all those who contributed to the finalization and implementation of LFS for Q1 2016, especially its staff

For more information concerning the publication "Labour Force Survey (LFS) in Kosovo" for Q1 2016 visit:http://ask.rks-gov.net/en/kosovo-agency-of-statistics/social/labour-market