STATIN says July unemployment rate raises to 3.4%

October 2, 2026

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) says the unemployment rate in July stood at 3.4 per cent compared with 3.3 per cent in July 2025.

According to STATIN, the July Labour Force Survey recorded a labour force totalling 1,468,500 persons, down by 21,800 when compared with July 2025.

Employment declined by 21,900 to 1,419,200 while the number of persons outside the labour force increased by 21,800 to 687,300.

STATIN says the decrease in labour force participation was primarily driven by the reduction in employment, as many persons moved outside the labour force.

The overall labour force participation rate was 68.1 per cent relative to 69.1 per cent in July 2025.

Among the employed, 50.4 per cent were in the formal sector, 47.3 per cent in the informal sector and 2.3 per cent were involved with household own-use and community (HOC) activities.

Compared with July 2025, 6,900 fewer persons were in the formal sector, 12,300 fewer persons were in the informal sector and employment in the HOC sector fell by 2,700.

The overall rise in the number of persons outside the labour force was largely due to an additional 14,800 youth exiting the labour force.

STATIN says July 2026 is the first quarter since Hurricane Melissa in which the full LFS questionnaire was administered in all parishes.

This is also the first official release of estimates on formal and informal employment; and employment in the formal, informal and household own-use and community (HOC) sectors from the revised survey.