The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) says Jamaica’s unemployment rate remained at 4.5% as at July 2023, equalling the record low outturn reported for April.

The institute’s Director General, Carol Coy, notes that the rate is 2.1 percentage points lower than that recorded in July 2022.

She says there were 1,377,000 people in the labour force in July 2023, 95.5% of whom are employed.

Ms. Coy indicates that the largest increase in employment by industry was in ‘real estate and other business services’ and ‘construction’.

Ms. Coy was addressing the agency’s virtual quarterly press briefing yesterday ( October 18 ).