Jamaica’s labor market continued its upward trend in July 2025, with more people employed and the unemployment rate declining compared with the same period last year, according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (Statin).
The July 2025 Labour Force Survey showed that 32,100 more individuals were employed compared to July 2024, bringing the total employed labour force to 1,441,100. The largest employment gains were recorded in the managers occupational group and in the wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles industry. Youth employment rose by 7.2 per cent, or 12,200 persons, while the number of underemployed individuals — those working part-time but seeking additional hours — fell by 5,400 to 25,400.
Labour force participation also increased to 1,490,300, up 28,700 from a year earlier, with males accounting for about two-thirds of the growth. The overall participation rate was 69.1 per cent, with male participation at 75.0 per cent and female participation at 63.4 per cent.
Unemployment dropped by 3,400 persons, pushing the rate down from 3.6 per cent in July 2024 to 3.3 per cent in July 2025. The improvement was largely driven by decreases among males and the prime working-age group (25–54 years), though female unemployment rose slightly, from 4.0 per cent to 4.4 per cent. Male unemployment fell to 2.4 per cent from 3.2 per cent.
The number of people outside the labor force fell to 665,500, down from 694,200 a year earlier, mainly due to a decline among males, with fewer youth and prime working-age individuals remaining outside the workforce.
Statin noted that these figures reflect continued positive trends in the Jamaican labor market, supporting both economic stability and inclusive growth.
