Third quarter unemployment figures have bottomed out reaching 5.9 percent from the lowest of 5.5 percent during the corresponding quarter of 2008 after a gradual decline from 8.1 percent in 2003, data released by the government’s statistics office shows.

According to the Department of Census and Statistics, unemployed people during the third quarter of this year increased to 480,000 from 449,000 during the corresponding period of 2008.

Data for the distribution of employed persons for the third quarter shows 240,000 job losses in the agriculture sector, 89,000 job losses in the industrial sector and 234,000 job gains in the services sector; a net loss of 93,000 jobs.

Statistics department officials said the drop in agricultural employment numbers is due to adverse weather conditions affecting paddy production and the nature of its employment—seasonal and including unpaid family members.

The 234,000 job gains to the services sector is a result of creation of employment in the hotels, retail trade and ‘miscellaneous’ employment, statistics department deputy director G Y L Fernando said.

Employment numbers for the third quarter is made up of 2.4 million in the agriculture sector, 1.9 million in the industrial sector and 3.3 million in the services sector out of a total of 7.7 million employed.

According to figures presented by the Department of Census and Statistics, about 7.4 million people were employed during the second quarter: 2.4 million in the agriculture sector, 1.9 million in the industrial sector and 3.1 million in the services sector.

The department’s figures for the first quarter shows the total number of employed to be about 7.7 million: 2.6 million in the agriculture sector, 1.9 million in the industrial sector and 3.2 million in the services sector.