Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Jamaica

Jamaica: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 60.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
60.6%
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
54th
of 196 countries
All-time high
66.5%
in 1982
All-time low
36.5%
in 1970
Years of data
39
1960–2023

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Jamaica, 1960–2023

02040601960199120231960: 49.81970: 36.51974: 58.61975: 621976: 61.31978: 64.31980: 40.41981: 65.21982: 66.51985: 40.51988: 471990: 62.41991: 39.21994: 62.41995: 61.81996: 60.61997: 591998: 57.61999: 56.52001: 53.62002: 55.32003: 532004: 55.32007: 572008: 55.52009: 53.62010: 52.22011: 52.32012: 52.62013: 52.92014: 53.12016: 56.12017: 56.92018: 56.32019: 57.52020: 55.42021: 562022: 58.42023: 60.6

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Jamaica is 60.6%, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of up 3.8% on the previous year and up 14.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Jamaica peaked at 66.5% in 1982 and was at its lowest, 36.5%, in 1970.

Jamaica ranks 54th of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Jamaica, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Jamaica, 1960 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1960 49.8%
1970 36.5% -26.6%
1974 58.6% +60.5%
1975 62.0% +5.9%
1976 61.3% -1.3%
1978 64.3% +4.9%
1980 40.4% -37.1%
1981 65.2% +61.3%
1982 66.5% +2.0%
1985 40.5% -39.0%
1988 47.0% +15.9%
1990 62.4% +32.7%
1991 39.2% -37.2%
1994 62.4% +59.3%
1995 61.8% -1.0%
1996 60.6% -1.9%
1997 59.0% -2.6%
1998 57.6% -2.4%
1999 56.5% -1.9%
2001 53.6% -5.1%
2002 55.3% +3.2%
2003 53.0% -4.2%
2004 55.3% +4.3%
2007 57.0% +3.1%
2008 55.5% -2.6%
2009 53.6% -3.4%
2010 52.2% -2.7%
2011 52.3% +0.2%
2012 52.6% +0.6%
2013 52.9% +0.6%
2014 53.1% +0.4%
2016 56.1% +5.6%
2017 56.9% +1.4%
2018 56.3% -1.1%
2019 57.5% +2.3%
2020 55.4% -3.8%
2021 56.0% +1.2%
2022 58.4% +4.2%
2023 60.6% +3.8%

Jamaica compared with similar countries

  • Jamaica's 60.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 52.0%, 1.2× the median. (53 countries reporting)
  • Jamaica's 60.6% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 53.7%, 1.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Jamaica changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1981 +61.3% 40.4% 65.2%
1974 +60.5% 36.5% 58.6%
1994 +59.3% 39.2% 62.4%
1985 -39.0% 66.5% 40.5%
1980 -37.1% 64.3% 40.4%
1991 -37.2% 62.4% 39.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 49.8% 49.8% 49.8% 1
1970s 56.5% 36.5% 64.3% 5
1980s 51.9% 40.4% 66.5% 5
1990s 57.4% 39.2% 62.4% 8
2000s 54.8% 53.0% 57.0% 7
2010s 54.4% 52.2% 57.5% 9
2020s 57.6% 55.4% 60.6% 4

Countries ranked near Jamaica

  1. 51 Paraguay 61.3% compare
  2. 52 Canada 61.1% compare
  3. 53 Palau 60.7% compare
  4. 55 Denmark 60.5% compare
  5. 56 British Virgin Islands 60.3% compare
  6. 57 Guinea-Bissau 60.1% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Jamaica

All data for Jamaica →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Jamaica?
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Jamaica was 60.6% in 2023, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Jamaica?
The highest recorded value was 66.5% in 1982.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Jamaica?
The lowest recorded value was 36.5% in 1970.
How does Jamaica rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
Jamaica ranks 54th out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Jamaica?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Jamaica data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Jamaica. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-female-percent-of-female-population-ages-15-national/jamaica/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 5,454 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.