Jobs up in private sector

Business

JOBS in the private sector have increased by 1.8 per cent in the first quarter of this year, according to Bank of Papua New Guinea’s employment index.
According to the Central Bank’s quarterly economic bulletin for March released yesterday, Bank of Papua New Guinea Governor Loi Bakani, pictured, said this was slightly down from the increase recorded for the final quarter of 2018 which was 1.9 per cent.
“Excluding the mineral sector, the level of employment increased by 2.0 per cent,” he said of last year.
Bakani said that by sector, the level of employment increased in the manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, fishing, financial, business and other services, wholesale and the mineral sectors, while it declined in the transportation, retail and construction sectors.”
Meanwhile by region, Bakani stated that the level of employment increased in all regions, except the Highlands, which recorded a marginal decline.
“Over the year to March 2019, the total level of employment increased by 3.8 per cent, compared to a decline of 4.6 per cent in the corresponding period of 2018.
“Excluding the mineral sector, employment increased by 1.5 per cent over the year to March 2019, compared to a decline of 5.5 per
cent in the corresponding period of 2018.”