Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Jamaica
Jamaica: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 2.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Jamaica, 1974–2023
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2023, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Jamaica stood at 2.2%. That is the lowest value across all 49 years on record.
The figure is down 29.8% on the previous year and down 69.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Jamaica peaked at 18.7% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 2023.
That places Jamaica 154th out of 181 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 49 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 11.6% | — |
| 1975 | 11.2% | -3.0% |
| 1976 | 12.9% | +15.4% |
| 1977 | 15.2% | +17.4% |
| 1978 | 13.7% | -9.7% |
| 1979 | 16.7% | +21.9% |
| 1980 | 18.4% | +10.3% |
| 1981 | 13.8% | -25.1% |
| 1982 | 15.6% | +13.1% |
| 1983 | 16.2% | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 15.8% | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 18.7% | +18.2% |
| 1986 | 14.8% | -20.9% |
| 1987 | 13.2% | -10.7% |
| 1988 | 13.2% | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 9.5% | -27.9% |
| 1990 | 9.3% | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 9.5% | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 9.5% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 10.9% | +14.7% |
| 1994 | 9.6% | -11.9% |
| 1995 | 10.8% | +12.9% |
| 1996 | 10.0% | -7.7% |
| 1997 | 10.6% | +5.7% |
| 1998 | 10.0% | -5.1% |
| 1999 | 10.0% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 10.2% | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 10.3% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 9.8% | -4.2% |
| 2003 | 7.8% | -21.0% |
| 2004 | 8.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 7.6% | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 7.0% | -8.2% |
| 2007 | 6.1% | -13.2% |
| 2008 | 4.9% | -19.0% |
| 2009 | 5.9% | +19.6% |
| 2010 | 5.9% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 6.3% | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 6.7% | +6.3% |
| 2013 | 7.4% | +11.0% |
| 2014 | 7.0% | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 6.4% | -8.7% |
| 2017 | 5.5% | -14.1% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | -22.5% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | -9.7% |
| 2020 | 5.7% | +49.5% |
| 2021 | 4.2% | -26.1% |
| 2022 | 3.2% | -24.6% |
| 2023 | 2.2% | -29.8% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 2.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.4%, 42% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 2.2% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5.8%, 39% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.6% | 11.2% | 16.7% | 6 |
| 1980s | 14.9% | 9.5% | 18.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.0% | 9.3% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.8% | 4.9% | 10.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.9% | 3.8% | 7.4% | 9 |
| 2020s | 3.8% | 2.2% | 5.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
- 151 Seychelles 2.4% compare
- 152 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 2.3% compare
- 153 Philippines 2.3% compare
- 155 Palau 2.2% compare
- 156 Côte d'Ivoire 2.1% compare
- 157 Saudi Arabia 2.1% 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 unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Jamaica?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Jamaica was 2.2% in 2023, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 18.7% in 1985.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 2023.
- How does Jamaica rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Jamaica ranks 154th out of 181 countries with data for 2023.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 69.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Jamaica data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.