Jamaica’s unemployment rate fell to 4.2% in October last year, compared to the similar period in 2021.

The 2023 period is being compared to 2021, as no labour force survey was undertaken in October 2022, because of the implementation of the 2022 Population and Housing Census.

In a statement today, the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) said last October, there were 1.37million people in the labour force, 48,900 more than in October 2021. 

It said the largest increase in employment by occupation group was in ‘Service Workers and Shop and Market Sales Workers’. 

In reacting to the report, Finance Minister, Dr. Nigel Clarke expressed happiness that the unemployment rate fell to a historic record low.

STATIN had also indicated that in October 2023, there were 738, 900 males and 638,700 females, in the labour force.

It noted that the male labour force increased by just over 24,000 and the female labour force by almost 25, 000.

Dr. Clarke said the gender difference continues to be noticeable.