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The rate of unemployment for January to March 2018 stood at 9.7 per cent, an increase of 0.3 percentage points from the rate of 9.4 per cent recorded for the same period in 2017. The unemployment rate among males stood at 8.4 per cent and 11.0 per cent among females.

According to data produced by the Barbados Statistical Service, in the review period, the number of persons employed totalled 126,400; of whom 65,800 were males and 60,600 were females. The total number of unemployed persons stood at 13,600; some 6,100 males and 7,500 females.

 In total, the number of persons in the labour force stood at 139,900. The number of persons not actively looking for work, hence excluded from the labour force, was 80,200 persons.

The Labour Force participation rate stood at 63.6 per cent, with participation among males at 68.4 per cent and 59.2 per cent among females.

In the first quarter of 2018, the Wholesale & Retail Trade Sector generated jobs for the largest number of persons, employing 19,900 persons, while the Accommodation & Food Services Sector employed 17,600 persons. The Construction, Mining & Quarrying Sector generated employment for 11,900 persons and the Public Administration & Defence Sector generated employment for 8,700 persons.

Employment in the category classified as Other Groups reached 8,300 persons, while the Administrative and Support Service Sector employed 8,200 persons. The Transportation & Storage Sector and the Manufacturing Sector employed 7,600 persons and 6,600 persons, respectively.

The Human Health & Social Work Sector, the Education Sector and the Finance and Insurance Sector generated employment for 5,700 persons, 5,700 persons and 5,600 persons, respectively.

Employment in the Activities of Households as Employers Sector stood at 4,800 persons, while employment in the Other Services Sector stood at 4,600 persons.

During the review period, employment levels in the Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing Sector stood at 4,500 persons. Professional, Scientific and Technical Services Sector generated jobs for 4,100 persons, while 2,300 persons were employed in Electric, Gas, Steam, Water & Air Conditioning Supply Sector during the first quarter of 2018.

 Economic Affairs Division

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