This monthly guide to the state of the labour market contains statistics and analysis of the latest trends, covering issues such as employment, unemployment, economic activity and inactivity, earnings, claimant count, government employment, hours, labour disputes and training. It gives the latest results from national surveys, plus the most significant findings from the government’s labour market research programme. This issue includes coverage of: An analysis of employment distribution and characteristics of people in the main industry/occupation groups, by Nasima Begum, Labour Market Division, ONS; Detailed analyses of Labour disputes in 2003, with comparison with data from previous years, by Joanne Monger, Employment, Earnings and Productivity Division, ONS; A Technical Report on the methodology for 2002/2003 annual local area Labour Force Survey data by David Hastings, Labour Market Division and Joe Traynor, Social and Vital Statistics Division, ONS.