Jamaica Records Highest Employment Rate in Seven Years
By: , November 22, 2015The Key Point:
The Facts
- This was 0.7 per cent lower than July 2014, and 0.1 per cent point below the figure recorded in April 2015
- The Director General indicated that the data also showed a decline in youth unemployment
The Full Story
The Statistical Institute of Jamaica’s (STATIN) latest Labour Force Survey shows that the number of persons employed, as at July 2015, rose to 1,147,500.
This represents an increase of 23,200, relative to the corresponding period last year, and the highest figure recorded since October 2008.
The data also shows that the unemployment rate, also as at July 2015, was 13.1 per cent, representing the lowest quarterly figure recorded since July 2012.
This was 0.7 per cent lower than July 2014, and 0.1 per cent point below the figure recorded in April 2015.
Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Director General, Colin Bullock, provided this update during the agency’s quarterly media briefing, at its New Kingston offices on November 19.
Mr. Bullock said seven of the 16 industry groups surveyed recorded higher employment levels.
The largest increases, he outlined, were recorded in: Real Estate, Renting, and Business Activities – up 14,400 persons; Hotels and Restaurants – up 7,300 persons; Construction – up 4,300; and Wholesale and Retail, Repair of Motor Vehicles and Equipment, which rose by 3,800. The Director General indicated that the data also showed a decline in youth unemployment.