Statistics derived from the Continuous Household Labour Force Survey have indicated that the rate of unemployment for the first quarter of 2014 stood at 11.5 per cent.

According to the Research and Planning Unit of the Economic Affairs Division, the unemployment rate among males stood at 11.8 per cent and 11.1 per cent among females.

During the January to March review period, the number of persons employed totalled 124,000, of whom 62,300 were males and 61,600 were females. The total number of unemployed persons stood at 16,100 – 8,400 males and 7,700 females. The labour force stood at 140,000, while the number of persons not actively looking for work, hence excluded from the labour force was 82,900. The labour force participation rate stood at 62.8 per cent, with participation among males at 66.4 per cent and 59.5 per cent among females.

In the first quarter of 2014, the Wholesale and Retail Trade sector generated jobs for the largest number of persons – 21,100, while Accommodation & Food Services employed 14,900 persons. The Construction, Mining and Quarrying sector generated employment for 11,500 persons, and the Manufacturing sector generated work for 9,200 persons. Employment in Education reached 8,400 persons, while employment in the Public Administration and Defence sector went to 8,100. The Administrative and Support Service sector and the Finance & Insurance sector employed 7,200 persons and 6,700 persons, respectively.

The Human Health and Social Work sector generated employment for 6,600 persons, and the Transportation and Storage sector employed 5,700 persons. Employment in the Other Groups sector (Information and Communication, Activities of Extra-territorial Organisations and Bodies, Real Estate and Arts, Entertainment and Recreation) stood at 5,400 persons, while employment in the Activities of Households as Employers stood at 5,100 persons. Four thousand, nine hundred persons were employed in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services sector.

During the review period, employment recorded in the Other Services sector stood at 3,800 persons, while employment levels in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing stood at 3,000 persons. The Electric, Gas, Steam, Water and Air Conditioning Supply sector generated jobs for 2,400 persons.

webbgis@barbados.gov.bb

Author: Economic Affairs Division/ Sharon Austin

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