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The rate of unemployment for the third quarter (July to September) of 2016 stood at 10.2 per cent, a decrease of 1.1 percentage points from the rate of 11.3 per cent recorded for the same period in 2015.

According to statistics derived from the Continuous Household Labour Force Survey, which is conducted by the Barbados Statistical Service, the unemployment rate among males stood at 9.7 per cent and 10.8 per cent among females.

In the review period, the number of persons employed totalled 132,100; of whom 66,400 were males and 65,700 were females. The total number of unemployed persons stood at 15,100; 7,100 males and 8,000 females.

In total, the number of persons in the labour force stood at 147, 200.  The number of persons not actively looking for work, hence excluded from the labour force, was 74,200 persons. The labour force participation rate stood at 66.5 per cent, with participation among males at 69.5 per cent and 63.7 per cent among females.

During the third quarter of 2016, the Wholesale & Retail Trade Sector generated jobs for the largest number of persons, employing 22,400; while the Accommodation & Food Services Sector employed 16,500 persons. The Construction, Mining & Quarrying Sector generated employment for 14,100 persons, while the Manufacturing Sector generated employment for 9,500 persons.

Employment in the Public Administration & Defence Sector reached 9,400 persons, while the Other Groups Sector reached 8,500 persons. The Administrative & Support Service Sector and the Human Health & Social Work Sector employed 7,700 and 6,800 persons, respectively.

The Transportation & Storage Sector employed 6,700 persons, while the Education Sector and Activities of Households as Employers Sector generated employment for 6,400 persons and 5,300 persons, respectively.  Employment in the Finance & Insurance Sector stood at 5,000 persons, while employment in the Professional, Scientific & Technical Services Sector stood at 4,100. The employment generated in the Other Services Sector was 3,700 persons.

During the review period, employment recorded in the Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing Sector stood at 3,500 persons while the Electric, Gas, Steam, Water & Air Conditioning Supply Sector generated jobs for 2,500.

Economic Affairs Division

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