Unemployment in Jamaica drops to 10.4%

Unemployment in Jamaica took another fall in the latest survey, done by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) as 27,300 more persons gained employment over the 12 months period to October last year.
The latest data from Statin shows, the unemployment rate falling to 10.4 percent in October last year, “the lowest since October 2008,” Statin stated. According to Statin the rate of unemployment “has been trending downwards over the last decade”. The unemployment numbers are based on a Labour Force, of 1,347,600 representing a decrease of 6,500 compared to 1,354,100 in October 2016.
A total of 1,206,800 persons were employed in October 2017, representing 27,300 persons or 2.3 percent more than the 1,179,500 recorded in October 2016. Employment for males increased by 5,300 to 668,900 and for females an increase of 22,000 or 4.3 percent from 515,900 to 537,900 over the same period. The youth unemployment fell but remains high at 25.4 percent, the lowest since January 2008.
The overall unemployment rate for the country in July last year was 11.3 percent.