12 June 2019

2019- n° 150

In Q1 2019, payroll employment increased again in the private business sector and remained almost stable in public service Payroll employment - first quarter 2019

In Q1 2019, net payroll job creation reached 93,800, that is an increase of +0.4% after +0.3% in the previous quarter. Payroll employment remained almost stable in the public sector (+1,000 jobs after +2,000 jobs), and it increased steadily again in the private sector (+92,800 jobs after +67,900 jobs). Year on year, it rose by 218,600 net jobs (+0.9%): +225,400 jobs in the private sector and −6,800 jobs in the public service.

In Q1 2019, payroll employment increased again in industry: +7,500 jobs (that is +0.2%), after +8,800 jobs (that is +0.3%). Over a year it increased by 18,800 jobs (that is +0.6%).

The growth of payroll employment in construction accelerated and reached +16,100 (that is +1.2%, after +0.7%). This is the strongest increase over a quarter since the end of 2007. Year on year, the increase reached +36,500 jobs (that is +2.7%).

In Q1 2019, payroll employment increased by 68,200 in market services, that is +0.6%, after +0.4% in the previous quarter. Year on year, the market service sector as a whole supported the large majority of net jobs creations of payroll employment (+164,000 jobs).

Temporary employment rebounded moderatly: +7,700 jobs in Q1 2019, i.e. +1.0% after −1.5% in Q4 2018. Over a year, it remained in decline: −14,100, that is −1.7%. Employment in services excluding temporary work increased steadily again in Q1 2019: +60,500 jobs (i.e. +0.5 %, as in the previous quarter). Over a year, the market service sector excluding temporary work expanded by 178,200 jobs (+1.6%).

Employment in mainly non-market services was almost stable in Q1 2019: +800 jobs, after +5,600 jobs in the previous quarter. This slight decrease was due to the public service on the one hand (−300 jobs after +1,300 jobs) and from the private sector on the other hand (+1,100 jobs after +4,300 jobs). Over a year, employment in mainly non-market services decreased by 5,100 of which −9,300 in public service.

Compared to the employment estimate published on 12 march 2019, net job creation of Q4 2018 has been revised upwards by 16,200, especiallyin market services sector excluding temporary work.

Compared to the flash estimate focused on the private sector published on 10 may 2019, net job creation in Q1 2019 has been revised upwards by 26,400, especially due to the market services excluding temporary work and construction.