Employment rate stabilised in 2012

Data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) showed that the employment remained fairly stable in 2012 compared with 2011. The labour survey done by the government body that collects economic and social data (STATIN) between December 16 to 22 last year showed that there were 1,093,200 persons employed in December last year and 181,600 unemployed, which represented an increase of 4,400 (2.5%) over the 177,200 in December 2011 with the unemployment rate of 14.2 percent a slight increase over the level of 14.1 percent in December 2011.

In December 2012, the unemployment rate was, 10.3 per cent for males and 18.9 per cent for females. In September 2012, 172,900 persons were unemployed. The December data showed that of those employed 619,300 were males and 473,900 females. This showed no significant change compared with 1,083,400 (0.9%) in December 2011. In September 2012, employment was 1,088,200.

Total labour force was 1,274,800 persons in December 2012, comprising 690,300 males and 584,500 females, an increase of 14,200 (1.1%) from 1,260,600 in December 2011. In the previous quarter, September 2012, there were 1,261,100 persons in the labour force.

Employment in ‘Hotels and Restaurants Services’ increased by 8,500 (11.9%) from 71,100 in December 2011 to 79,600 in December 2012. During the same period, employment in ‘Manufacturing’ declined by 9,200 (11.2%).

Employment for ‘Professionals, Senior Officials and Technicians’ increased by 21,900 persons (9.8%) between December 2011 (223,800) and December 2012 (245,700). While, employment of ‘Craft and Related Trades Workers’ fell by 10,000 (7.1%).

The unemployment rate among youths (14-24 years) was 37.0 per cent in December 2012. This represented an increase of 3.3 percentage points when compared with 33.7 per cent in December 2011. In September 2012, the rate was 35.3 per cent.

The number of persons outside the labour force decreased by 11,600 (1.5%) between December 2011 (748,800) and December 2012 (737,200).