Jamaica’s unemployment worsened in December last year compared with a year ago according to the main findings of the Labour Force Survey, conducted by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) between December 14 and 20, last year.
According to Statin, the Unemployment Rate for December 2014 was 14.2 percent compared to 13.4 in December 2014 leaving the Employment Rate at 85.8 percent, a fall from the 86.6 percent in December 2013.
A total of 188,100 persons were unemployed in December last year, an increase of 13,100 when compared with 175,000 in December 2013. The deterioration did not stem from less persons being employed as the number of persons in the Labour Force rose to 1,320,800, or 15,700 higher than the 1,305,100 recorded in December 2013. The Employed Labour Force for December 2014 was 1,132,700, or 2,600 more than the 1,130,100 recorded in December 2013.
Jamaica’s Minister of Finance. At the last election his party promised jobs & more jobs. Tight economic policies won’t deliver them in the short term
The number of persons employed in the group ‘Manufacturing’ increased by 7,200 persons or 10 percent, while ‘Transport, Storage and Communication’ increased by 5,500 persons (7.7 percent). Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry & Fishing’ declined by 7,400 persons (3.6 percent) followed by ‘Real Estate, Renting & Business Activities’, which declined by 6,100 persons or 8.6 percent.