According to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), Jamaica’s unemployment rate fell to a new record low of six percent in April 2022.

This is 0.2 percentage point lower than the figure for January 2022 and is also a three-percentage point decline on the April 2021 outturn.

Director General, Carol Coy, noted that the male unemployment rate fell from 7.5 percent to 4.7 percent, while the corresponding figure for females dropped 3.2 percentage points to 7.6 percent.

The unemployment rate for youth, ages 14 to 24, was 15.5 percent in April 2022, an 8.6-percentage point decline compared to the same period last year.

She also explained that male youth unemployment fell six percentage points to 15.1 percent, while the rate for females dropped from 28 percent to 15.9 percent.

Meanwhile, the number of employed persons who were engaged in economic activities for at least one hour during the March 20 to 26 Survey reference week increased by 5.2 percent to 1,269,300.

Ms. Coy indicated that females accounted for just over one-half of the increase, 33,600 persons or 53.1 percent.

“Female employment grew by 6.2 percent, while male employment increased by 4.5 per cent,” she further noted.

The overall number of persons in the labor force in April 2022 rose by 24,900 or 1.9 percent, to 1,350,300.

Ms. Coy further explained that the number of individuals 14 years and older outside the labor force who were classified as neither employed nor unemployed fell by 22,600 to 746,400 compared to April 2021.

“The number of males outside the labor force declined by 8,900, while the number of females declined by 13,700,” she further informed.

Support The Readers Bureau Buy A T-Shirt Today (4 different colors)! click  https://www.bonfire.com/one-love-72/?fbclid=IwAR2bod-XSyrCPutOwG_SMnKiInk6Bqe2kCtjBsAFISqHluQcujrF2UUkFew

Readers Bureau, Contributor

Edited by Jesus Chan

Do you want to add feedback to this story? Please add a comment in the box below or send an email to info@thereadersbureau.com,  Call us at 201-500-7715