(RTTNews) - Wednesday, a report by the German Federal Statistical Office said the number of employed persons increased 0.1% in the first quarter, slower than a 1% rise in the fourth quarter. The number of employed totaled 39.9 million in the first quarter, falling below 40 million for the first time in three quarters, the statistical office said.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, employment declined sequentially by 0.3% or 119,000 persons in the first quarter, representing the first fall in three years.

Among the sectors, the service sector employment grew 0.4% year-on-year in the first quarter, slower than a 1.2% rise in the fourth quarter. Employment in agriculture, forestry and fishing was up 0.9% compared to a 1.4% growth in the fourth quarter.

At the same time, employment in the industrial and energy sector fell 0.7% in the first quarter, for the first time in nine quarters, and reversed the 0.9% rise in the fourth quarter. Employment in construction continued to drop in the first quarter, with the number of employed slipping 1.1% in the first quarter compared to a 0.6% fall in the preceding quarter.

Meanwhile, the number of hours worked dipped 3.1% on an annual basis in the first quarter, faster than a 1.4% decline in the fourth quarter. The average number of hours worked totaled 354.8 in the first quarter, down from 355.9 in the previous quarter.

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Posted in Categories: Economy, Eurozone, Releases.

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