23-7    Labour Force and Unemployment
Item	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001
Labour Force      (10 000 persons)	323.5	327.6	332.0	337.4	342.7
Male	195.5	195.8	195.7	196.4	196.5
Female	128.0	131.8	136.2	141.0	146.2
Employed Persons  (10 000 persons)	316.4	312.2	311.2	320.7	325.2
Unemployed Persons(10 000 persons)	7.1	15.4	20.7	16.7	17.5
Unemployment  Rate             (%)	2.2	4.7	6.2	4.9	5.1