The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is projecting a fall in the poverty rate from 16.7 per cent to which it rose in 2021, representing a 5.7 percentage point increase relative to 2019. Director General, Dr. Wayne Henry, notes that the out-turn reflected the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on household incomes and consumption, which “is in keeping with...

Nineteen public-sector workers have been awarded full scholarships to pursue advanced studies at local and international tertiary institutions. They are the third cohort to benefit from the Marcus Garvey Public Sector Graduate Scholarship, which is administered by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service. The awards ceremony was held at King’s House on Thursday (August 17), to coincide with...

Jamaica is estimated to have recorded gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 2.9 per cent for the first six months of 2023, between January and June. Director General, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wayne Henry, made the disclosure during the agency’s digital press conference on Thursday (August 17). He informed that the Services Industry grew by 3.5 per cent,...

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) reopened the doors of the Buff Bay Tax Office at its new location Shop #1, Sam’s Plaza, 7 Thompson Avenue, Buff Bay Portland on Thursday August 3, 2023. The new location which operates Mon. – Wed. (8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) and Thurs. – Fri. (8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) to the public, provides improved service...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the country is close to full employment, citing further reduction in Jamaica’s unemployment rate to a record low 4.5 per cent. The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) reported on Tuesday (August 15) that the out-turn, based on the April 2023 Labour Force Survey, is 1.5 percentage points lower than the figure for...

The country’s unemployment rate fell to a new record low 4.5 per cent in April 2023, according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) Labour Force Survey for the period. This was 1.5 percentage points lower than the out-turn for the corresponding timeline in 2022, Director General, Carol Coy, indicated. Speaking during STATIN’s quarterly digital media briefing on Tuesday (August...

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (left), receives a framed collection of the new series of banknotes from Governor, Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), Richard Byles. The BOJ Governor, along with other representatives from the Bank, visited King’s House on August 15.