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January 23, 2012
The main findings of the October 2011 Labour Force Survey which was conducted by
the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) are presented below. The reference
week for this survey was September 18 to 24, 2011.
Total Labour Force in October 2011
was 1,249,500, an increase of 9,400
(0.8%) compared with 1,240,100 persons in October 2010. During the same period,
Labour Force Participation Rate ie.
Labour Force as a percentage of the working age population did not change
significantly, moving from 61.8 to 62.1
per cent.
The 1,089,800 persons
Employed in October 2011 showed little change from the 1,091,100 in October 2010. When compared with the previous quarter
(July 2011), however, employment increased by 5,500 persons (0.5%).
Employment in the Industry Group ‘Wholesale & Retail, Repair of Motor Vehicles & Equipment’ increased
by 16,900 persons (8.1%) between October 2010 and October 2011. During the same
period Employment in ‘Agriculture,
Hunting, Forestry & Fishing’ declined by 29,100 persons (13.2%).
The Occupation Group
‘Craft & Related Trades Workers’ had increased employment of 14,200 persons (10.2%) between October 2010 and October 2011.
Employment among ‘Skilled Agricultural &
Fishery Workers’ declined by 28,000 persons (12.9%) during the same period.
The number of Unemployed persons in
October 2011 was 159,700, an increase
of 10,700 (7.2%) over the 149,000 in October 2010. In July 2011 unemployment was
151,900, an increase, over this quarter, of 7,800 persons (5.1%).
The Unemployment Rate of
12.8 per cent in October 2011
represents an increase of 0.8 of a percentage point when compared with 12.0 per
cent in October 2010. In January 2011 the unemployment rate was 12.9 per cent
and fell to 12.3 per cent in July 2011.
Unemployment Rate for Youths aged 14-24
years was 31.1 per cent in
October 2011, no significant change compared with 30.9 per cent in October 2010.
The 761,300 persons Outside the
Labour Force in October 2011 was a decrease of 4,200 (0.5%) when compared to
765,500 in October 2010, and a decrease of 11,900 (1.5%) when compared with July
2011 (773,200).
The Labour Force Bulletin October 2011 may be obtained by contacting our distribution
centre
located @ 7 Cecelio Avenue,
Kingston 10.
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