In January 2008 the labour force increased by 30,400 persons or 2.4 percent, moving from 1,270,000 in January 2007 to 1,300,400 and comprised of 722,100 males and 578,300 females. The number of employed persons was 1,167,400 of which 675,400 were males and 492,000 were females. The employment rates were 89.8 per cent for both sexes, 93.5 per cent for males and 85.1 per cent for females. The overall unemployment rate was 10.2 per cent, 6.5 for males and 14.9 per cent for females.

• The working age population (14 years and over) increased by 29,500 or 1.5 per cent in the same period.
• The employed labour force increased by 33,500 persons or 3.0 per cent between January 2007 and January 2008. Employment among males increased by 16,800 or 2.6 per cent while females increased by 16,700 or 3.5 per cent.
• The industry group ‘Wholesale and Retail Trades and Hotels and Restaurants Services’ contributed significantly to the overall increase in employment. For the period January 2007 to January 2008 ‘Wholesale and Retail Trades and Hotels and Restaurants Services’ grew by 9,100 or 3.5 per cent. The only industry group which experienced decline during this period was ‘Transport, Storage and communication’ which fell by 1,400 or 1.7 per cent.
• The occupation group ‘Clerks’ with an increase of 10,000 or 10.8 percent was mainly responsible for the growth in employment between January 2007 and January 2008. This was followed by ‘Craft and Related Trades Workers’ which increased by 7,600 or 4.4 per cent during the same period.
• Employment among youths 14-24 years showed little change, moving from 163,900 in January 2007 to 163,500 in January 2008. In contrast, employment in the 25-34 years age group increased by 10,200 or 3.5 per cent.
• The number of unemployed persons declined by 3,000 persons or 2.2 percent between January 2007 and January 2008. In January 2008, the unemployment rate for the 14-19 age group was 38.4 per cent, for the 20-24 years it was 21.2 per cent and 10.4 per cent for persons 25-34 years.
• There were 690,700 persons outside the labour force in January 2008 a slight decline of 0.1 per cent compared with January 2007. The age groups with the largest number of person outside the labour force in January 2008 were the 14-19 years (38.5%) and 65 years and over (23.2%). Sixty-three per cent of the persons outside the labour force in January 2008 were females and 37 per cent were males.

The Labour Force January 2008 Bulletin outlines additional information and may be obtained at our distribution Office, 7 Cecelio Avenue Kingston 10. Data is also available on the STATIN website at www.ststinja.com