Statistics derived from the Continuous Household Labour Force Survey indicated that the rate of unemployment for the fourth quarter (October to December) of 2013 stood at 13.2 per cent.

The unemployment rate for males was 13.5 per cent and 12.9 per cent for females.??In the review period, the number of persons employed totalled 123,200, of whom 61,900 were males and 61,300 were females.

The total number of unemployed persons stood at 18,700, some 9,700 males and 9,100 females. In total, the number of persons in the labour force stood at 141,900, consisting of 71,500 males and 70,400 females.

The number of persons not actively looking for work, hence, excluded from the labour force was 72,200 persons. A total of 29,600 males and 42,600 females were excluded from the labour force. The Labour Force participation rate stood at 67.3 per cent with participation among males at 73.1 per cent and 62.1 per cent among females.

In the fourth quarter of 2013, the Wholesale and Retail Trade sector generated jobs for the largest number of persons, employing 19,600 persons, while the Accommodation and Food Services sector generated employment for 14,200 persons. The Construction, Mining and Quarrying sector employed 10,900 persons and the Public Administration and Defence sector generated employment for 10,200 persons.

Employment in the Manufacturing sector reached 9,300 persons, while employment levels in Education reached 7,400 persons. The Other Groups sector and the Transportation & Storage sector employed 7,300 persons and 6,600 persons respectively.

The Human Health & Social Work sector generated employment for 6,200 persons and the Finance & Insurance sector generated employment for 6,000 persons. Employment in the Administrative and Support Service sector stood at 5,500 persons while employment in the Activities of Households as Employers stood at 5,200 persons. The employment generated in the Other Services sector was 5,100 persons.

During the review period, employment recorded in the Professional, Scientific & Technical Services sector stood at 3,900 persons, while employment levels in the Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing sector stood at 3,500 persons. The Electric, Gas, Steam, Water & Air Conditioning Supply sector generated jobs for 2,300 persons during the fourth quarter of 2013.

cathy.lashley@barbados.gov.bb

Author: Cathy Lashley/Ministry of Finance

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