nation’s potential output. Boosting employment prospects is also critical, as the country will soon be ageing at a fast pace …. Despite long working hours, labour utilisation is only average due to structurally low employment rates, particularly at both … ends of the age spectrum, with some marked regional differences. The female employment rate is especially low, in part due …

a tightening labor market, inflation remains subdued. Employment has grown 1¼–1½ percent in 2007, on par with the …