24-4 Labour Force and Unemployment
Item	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009 ①
Labour Force                       (10 000 persons)	24.8	27.5	31.0	33.3	32.9
Male	13.0	14.7	16.6	17.8	17.1
Female	11.8	12.8	14.4	15.5	15.8
Employed Population           (10 000 persons)	23.7	26.5	30.0	32.3	31.8
Unemployed Population       (10 000 persons)	1.0	1.0	0.9	1.0	1.2
Unemployment Rate                                 (%)	4.1	3.8	3.1	3.0	3.6
Note: ①Lower age boundary in defining labour force is revised from 14 years old to 16 years old starting 2009.