The source of data is the Labour Force Survey, which collects data about the economic activity of population aged 15–74 years living in private households.
Employed persons are those who worked one hour or more for profit during the reference week, or had a job from which they were temporarily absent (sick-leave, holiday, maternity leave).
Unemployed persons are those who neither worked, nor had a job from which they were temporarily absent, who were actively seeking work in the four weeks before the reference week, were available for work at the time of the survey, i.e. could start work within two weeks following the reference week if a proper job was found, or who found a job to start later, i.e. within 90 days.
Economically active population is the total number of employed and unemployed persons.
Economically inactive persons are those who cannot be classified either as employed or unemployed. Students, pensioners who do not work, housewives, seasonal workers out of the season, in case they do not seek a job and recipients of child care benefit belong to this group. Within this, passive unemployed are persons who would like to find a job, but as they deem their chances unfavourable, they do not seek one actively.
Unemployment rate is the ratio of unemployed persons to the economically active population.
Harmonised unemployment rate (calculated by Eurostat) is the unemployment rate calculated on the basis of a model combining quarterly Labour Force Survey data and the increase of monthly registered unemployed in the previous year. In case of larger groups of countries, the indicator is generally a good approximation of the indicator calculated on the basis of LFS alone. Should a significant change occur in the number of registered unemployed (e.g. because of changes in relating regulations), the value of harmonised unemployment differs from the value calculated in the LFS.
Participation rate is the ratio of economically active persons (employed and unemployed) to the population. From 2008, the participation rate of persons in working age is the ratio of economically active men aged 15–61 years and economically active women aged 15–61 years to the male and female population of the same age group.
The Labour Force Survey is based on a multi-stage stratified probability sample design. In case of larger, "self-representing" settlements the primary sampling units are dwellings. On the other hand, in case of smaller settlements, the first stage of sampling is the selection of settlements. Since 1998, the size of the quarterly sample has been about 32 thousand respondent households (about 65 thousand persons). The survey is continuous, the quarterly sample consists of three statistically independent monthly sub-samples. The basis of grossing up is the population number in the survey period estimated with the help of a mathematical model. The population number in each population group is calculated by multiplying the sample values of the different strata with the proper weight and summing them up.
| Period | Employed | Unemployed | Unemployment rate, % |
| number, 1000 persons | |||
| November 2008–January 2009 | 3 838.4 | 350.8 | 8.4 |
| (s.e.) | 32.5 | 17.5 | 0.4 |
| December 2008–February 2009 | 3 789.9 | 377.7 | 9.1 |
| (s.e.) | 25.6 | 13.8 | 0.5 |
| January–March 2009 | 3 764.1 | 402.8 | 9.7 |
| (s.e.) | 31.7 | 18.5 | 0.4 |
| February–April 2009 | 3 766.6 | 411.8 | 9.9 |
| (s.e.) | 31.1 | 19.1 | 0.5 |
| March–May 2009 | 3 779.9 | 409.7 | 9.8 |
| (s.e.) | 31.2 | 18.6 | 0.4 |
| April–June 2009 | 3 797.1 | 401.7 | 9.6 |
| (s.e.) | 31.2 | 18.3 | 0.4 |
| May–July 2009 | 3 811.0 | 407.2 | 9.7 |
| (s.e.) | 30.4 | 17.9 | 0.4 |
| June–August 2009 | 3 800.2 | 418.8 | 9.9 |
| (s.e.) | 30.6 | 18.5 | 0.4 |
| July–September 2009 | 3 783.5 | 436.2 | 10.3 |
| (s.e.) | 31.3 | 18.8 | 0.4 |
| August–October 2009 | 3 788.9 | 439.5 | 10.4 |
| (s.e.) | 31.0 | 18.5 | 0.4 |
| September–November 2009 | 3 788.1 | 445.0 | 10.5 |
| (s.e.) | 30.5 | 18.8 | 0.4 |
| October–December 2009 | 3 782.8 | 442.1 | 10.5 |
| (s.e.) | 30.5 | 18.7 | 0.4 |