Employment rate in Jamaica
Jamaica: Employment rate was 67.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
67.3%
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
26th
of 186 countries
All-time high
67.4%
in 2023
All-time low
55.5%
in 2012
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment rate in Jamaica, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate in Jamaica is 67.3%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 12.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Jamaica peaked at 67.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 55.5%, in 2012.
That places Jamaica 26th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Employment rate in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 66.5% | — |
| 1992 | 66.1% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 65.8% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 65.4% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 65.0% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 64.4% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 63.9% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 63.3% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 62.7% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 62.2% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 61.7% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 61.4% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 61.1% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 61.1% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 60.9% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 60.6% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 60.4% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 60.1% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 57.6% | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 55.9% | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 55.9% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 55.5% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 55.8% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 56.9% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 59.7% | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 59.3% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 60.8% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 61.9% | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 63.6% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 60.6% | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 62.3% | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 64.9% | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 67.4% | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 67.3% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 67.3% | +0.0% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 67.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.7%, 1.2× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 67.3% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 58.1%, 1.2× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 64.8% | 62.7% | 66.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 60.7% | 57.6% | 62.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.5% | 55.5% | 63.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.0% | 60.6% | 67.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
- 23 Central African Republic 68.8% compare
- 24 Singapore 67.7% compare
- 25 Burkina Faso 67.6% compare
- 27 Bahamas 67.0% compare
- 28 Paraguay 66.9% compare
- 29 New Zealand 66.8% compare
More work & labour data for Jamaica
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.69 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.25 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0152 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1,904 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 799.47 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 544.43 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 522.35 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 1,067 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Jamaica?
- Employment rate in Jamaica was 67.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 67.4% in 2023.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 55.5% in 2012.
- How does Jamaica rank for employment rate?
- Jamaica ranks 26th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Jamaica data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.