Unemployment Inches up to 3.7% over the Quarter, Down for the 12 Months  

  • Data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) Labour Force Survey (LFS) revealed the unemployment rate stood at 3.7% in January 2025. The 3.7% rate is slightly higher than the 3.5% in October 2024 – the lowest rate on record, but still well below the 5.4% in January 2024.
  • The total number of unemployed individuals amounted to 54,500, up from 51,300 in October 2024 and the percentage of unemployed females relative to males is down from 60.0% to 58.0%. Regarding age distribution, the number of unemployed youth (persons aged 14-24) increased by 1,900 to 23,500, representing 43.1% of the total.
  • The labour force, consisting of 1,473,900 persons as of January 2025, increased from 1,468,300 in October 2024.  Notably, the total participation rate increased marginally from 68.1% in October to 68.4%, and the percentage of females in the workforce is up from 46.3% in October to 46.7%.
  • Notwithstanding the quarterly, increase from October, the number of unemployed individuals is 26,200 lower than 12 Months ago in January 2024. Similarly, the labour force is marginally down from 1,486,400 and the total participation rate is marginally lower than the 69.0% seen in January 2024.
  • Despite the decline in participation rate over 12 months, employment levels rose across most categories. The employed labour force expanded to 1,419,500, an increase of 13,800 persons (+1.0%). Employment among males rose by 5,800 (to 763,000) and among females by 7,900 (to 656,400). This growth was concentrated in ‘Technicians and Associate Professionals’ and ‘Professionals’, while the largest industry gains occurred in ‘Education, Human Health and Social Work Activities’.
  • Meanwhile, ‘Services and Sales’ remained the largest occupational group, accounting for 343,400 or 24.2% of the labour force. This was followed by ‘Skilled Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Workers’ (201,400) and ‘Elementary Occupations’ (176,200).

(Sources: STATIN & NCBCM Research)

 

[1] Since January 2024 changes to the LFS to incorporate recommendations from the 19th, 20th and 21st International Conferences of Labour Statisticians.