LFS estimates were updated on 22nd Feb 2024 to incorporate updated population estimates for the period 2016 Q3 to 2023 Q3, based on the results of Census 2022. LFS results are updated in this way following each Census of Population. For further information see Background Notes.
The data in this publication does not reflect these updates. Please refer to the relevant tables on LFS Px-stat for updated LFS estimates.
There were 2,608,500 persons aged 15-89 years in employment in Q1 2023. Of those who were in employment, an estimated 143,000 (5.5%) were absent from work during the reference week (i.e. temporarily absent from work for reasons such as holidays, sick leave or maternity leave). This compares with 168,100 (6.7%) 12 months earlier.
Overall employment was up compared to Q1 2022, while the number of absences from work during the reference week decreased. This resulted in the number of employed persons who were at work during the reference week increasing by 5.5% (+127,800) over the year. The estimated total number of hours worked per week in Q1 2023 stood at 83.9 million hours, up by 3.1 million hours or 3.8% on Q1 2022, and 15.2 million hours (+22.1%) on Q1 2021. See Table 6.1.
The rate of absences from work during the reference week varied across different industrial (NACE) sectors in the year to Q1 2023 – notable changes were seen in:
| Q1 2021 | Q1 2022 | Q1 2023 | |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 3.19548872180451 | 1.44927536231884 | 2.52270433905146 |
| Industry | 7.48768472906404 | 4.9492385786802 | 5.39067231980618 |
| Construction | 28.1632653061224 | 4.77087256748274 | 3.48258706467662 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 16.7 | 6.4 | 5.22185330516148 |
| Transportation and storage | 16.3 | 7.4 | 5.51038843721771 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 40.6 | 8.9 | 5.1 |
| Information and communication | 3.3 | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Financial, insurance and real estate activities | 7.2 | 6.1 | 4.5 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 6.1 | 5.4 | 3.8 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 18.2 | 8.5 | 6.4 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 6 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Education | 15.4 | 8.9 | 7.9 |
| Human health and social work activities | 12.3 | 11.2546125461255 | 7.6 |
| Other activities (Cultural & Recreation) | 36.2 | 5.76395242451967 | 6.4 |
| All Economic Sectors | 13.9 | 6.7 | 5.5 |
The large year-on-year differences in hours worked observed in some NACE sectors over recent quarters are less evident in Q1 2023. Of note were:
| Q1 2021 | Q1 2022 | Q1 2023 | |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Industry | 10.9 | 11.3 | 11.7 |
| Construction | 3.4 | 5.8 | 5.9 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 8.3 | 9 | 9.7 |
| Transportation and storage | 2.8 | 3.9 | 3.8 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 1.7 | 4.3 | 4.6 |
| Information and communication | 5.3 | 6 | 6 |
| Financial, insurance and real estate activities | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.8 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 2.2 | 3 | 3.4 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.7 |
| Education | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.4 |
| Human health and social work activities | 8.6 | 9.4 | 10.4 |
| Other NACE activities | 1.6 | 3.1 | 3.3 |
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