24-7  Labour Force and Unemployment 　
　 　 　 　 　 　
Item 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
　 　 　 　 　 　
  Labour Force              (10 000 persons) 332.0 337.4 342.7 348.7 350.1
      Male                             195.7 196.4 196.5 196.5 196.2
      Female                           136.2 141.0 146.2 152.2 153.9
  Employed Persons     (10 000 persons) 311.2 320.7 325.2 323.2 322.3
  Unemployed Persons (10 000 persons) 20.7 16.7 17.5 25.6 27.8
  Unemployment Rate                     (%) 6.2 4.9 5.1 7.3 7.9