The small but affluent Sammarinese economy, the close popular scrutiny over the government's deliberations, the long tradition of socialist control, and one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe almost rule out labor unrest in the republic. The new, more environmentally friendly industries that are gradually supplanting traditional stone quarrying are also more conducive to enhancing safety at work. Of a workforce of some 18,500, only 3 percent were unemployed in 1999.