Unemployment rate in Jamaica
Jamaica: Unemployment rate was 3.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Jamaica, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Jamaica recorded 3.3% for unemployment rate in 2025.
The figure is up 4.3% on the previous year and down 62.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Jamaica peaked at 9.7% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 2023.
That places Jamaica 137th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.5% | 6.2% | 6.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.7% | 6.5% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.8% | 5.0% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.2% | 3.0% | 6.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More work & labour data for Jamaica
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 82.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 69.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 34.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 40.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 37.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 63.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Jamaica?
- Unemployment rate in Jamaica was 3.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 9.7% in 2013.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 2023.
- How does Jamaica rank for unemployment rate?
- Jamaica ranks 137th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.