Statistics derived from the Continuous Household Labour Force Survey indicated that the rate of unemployment for the third quarter (July to September) of 2013 stood at 11.7 per cent. The unemployment rate among males stood at 12.2 per cent and 11.1 per cent among females.
In the review period, the number of persons employed totalled approximately 127,400, of whom 65,000 were males and 62,300 were females.
The total number of unemployed persons stood at 16,800-some 9,000 males and 7,800 females. In total, the number of persons in the labour force stood at 144,200, consisting of 74,100 males and 70,100 females. The number of persons not actively looking for work, hence excluded from the labour force was 69,800 persons.
A total of 27,000 males and 42,800 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 third quarter of 2013, the Wholesale and Retail Trade sector generated jobs for the largest number of persons, employing 20,600 persons, while the Accommodation and Food Services generated employment for 13,400 persons. The Public Administration and Defence sector employed 13,300 persons and the Construction, Mining and Quarrying sector generated employment for 12,900 persons.
Employment in the Manufacturing sector reached 9,000 persons, while employment levels in Education reached 6,900 persons. The Transportation & Storage sector and the Other Groups sector employed 6,700 persons and 6,500 persons respectively.
The Human Health & Social Work sector generated employment for 6,300 persons and the Finance & Insurance sector generated employment for 5,700 persons. Employment in the Administrative & Support Service sector stood at 5,600 persons, while employment in the Other Services sector stood at 5,400 persons.
The employment generated in the Activities of Households as Employers was 5,200 persons.
During the review period, employment recorded in the Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing sector stood at 3,600 persons, while employment levels in the Professional, Scientific & Technical Services sector stood at 3,400 persons. The Electric, Gas, Steam, Water & Air Conditioning Supply sector generated jobs for 3,000 persons during the third quarter of 2013.