The unemployment rate for January to March 2015 stood at 11.8 per cent. According to data produced by the Barbados Statistical Service and derived from the Continuous Household Labour Force Survey, the unemployment rate among males stood at 12.1 per cent and 11.6 per cent among females.

In the review period, the number of persons employed totalled 127,900, of whom 64,900 were males and 63,000 were females. The total number of unemployed persons stood at 17,200; some 8,900 males and 8,200 females.

The labour force stood at 145,100, while those persons not actively looking for work, hence excluded from the labour force, were 77,300. The Labour Force participation rate stood at 65.2 per cent, with participation among males at 69.5 per cent and 61.3 per cent among females.

During the first quarter of 2015, the Wholesale & Retail Trade Sector generated jobs for 20,200, the largest number of persons; while the Accommodation & Food Services Sector employed 17,400 persons. The Construction, Mining & Quarrying Sector generated employment for 12,200 persons; while the Manufacturing Sector created employment for 9,800 persons.

Employment in the Public Administration & Defence Sector reached 9,100 persons, while the Education Sector and Other Groups Sector (which includes Information and Communications, Activities of Extraterritorial Organisations & Bodies, Real Estate & Arts, Entertainment and Recreation industries) each generated employment for 7,800 persons. The Administrative & Support Service Sector employed 7,500 persons.

The Transportation & Storage Sector and the Finance & Insurance Sector generated employment for 6,000 and 5,500 persons, respectively. Employment in the Human Health & Social Work Sector stood at 5,300 persons, while 4,300 found work in the Professional, Scientific & Technical Services Sector.

During the review period, employment recorded in the Other Services Sector stood at 4,200 persons, while employment levels in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Sector stood at 4,100 persons. Employment in the Activities of Householders as Employers Sector reached 4,000 persons. The Electric, Gas, Steam, Water & Air Conditioning Supply Sector generated jobs for 2,600 persons during the first quarter of 2015.??

Author: Economic Affairs Division/BGIS

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