Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Jamaica
Jamaica: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 3.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Jamaica, 1969–2023
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Jamaica recorded 3.0% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 52 years on record.
The figure is down 26.0% on the previous year and down 68.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Jamaica peaked at 35.5% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 2023.
That places Jamaica 148th out of 187 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 52 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 17.6% | — |
| 1972 | 23.2% | +31.9% |
| 1973 | 22.1% | -4.7% |
| 1974 | 20.1% | -9.0% |
| 1975 | 19.7% | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 21.8% | +11.0% |
| 1977 | 24.2% | +10.7% |
| 1978 | 23.7% | -1.8% |
| 1979 | 27.6% | +16.2% |
| 1980 | 35.5% | +28.8% |
| 1981 | 25.0% | -29.6% |
| 1982 | 26.7% | +6.8% |
| 1983 | 26.4% | -1.2% |
| 1984 | 25.5% | -3.3% |
| 1985 | 33.4% | +30.9% |
| 1986 | 23.4% | -30.0% |
| 1987 | 21.0% | -10.2% |
| 1988 | 23.0% | +9.7% |
| 1989 | 16.8% | -27.2% |
| 1990 | 15.7% | -6.2% |
| 1991 | 15.7% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 15.8% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 16.3% | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 15.3% | -6.0% |
| 1995 | 16.2% | +5.9% |
| 1996 | 16.0% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 16.5% | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 15.5% | -5.9% |
| 1999 | 15.6% | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 15.5% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 15.0% | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 14.2% | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 11.7% | -17.3% |
| 2004 | 11.4% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 11.3% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 10.3% | -8.3% |
| 2007 | 9.7% | -5.6% |
| 2008 | 6.7% | -31.6% |
| 2009 | 7.3% | +9.7% |
| 2010 | 7.6% | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 8.0% | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 8.7% | +8.2% |
| 2013 | 9.7% | +11.5% |
| 2014 | 9.0% | -6.7% |
| 2016 | 8.6% | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 7.4% | -14.3% |
| 2018 | 5.5% | -26.1% |
| 2019 | 5.0% | -8.8% |
| 2020 | 6.5% | +30.4% |
| 2021 | 5.2% | -20.2% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | -21.3% |
| 2023 | 3.0% | -26.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 17.6% | 17.6% | 17.6% | 1 |
| 1970s | 22.8% | 19.7% | 27.6% | 8 |
| 1980s | 25.7% | 16.8% | 35.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.9% | 15.3% | 16.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.3% | 6.7% | 15.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.7% | 5.0% | 9.7% | 9 |
| 2020s | 4.7% | 3.0% | 6.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
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, total (% of total labor force) in Jamaica?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Jamaica was 3.0% in 2023, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 35.5% in 1980.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 2023.
- How does Jamaica rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Jamaica ranks 148th out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 68.8%. 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, total (% of total 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.