Youth unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Jamaica

Jamaica: Youth unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 24.98 in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
24.98
Change on year
down 22.3%
World rank
73rd
of 94 countries
All-time high
68.18
in 2013
All-time low
24.98
in 2023
Years of data
15
2008–2023

Youth unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Jamaica, 2008–2023

02040602008201520232008: 45.42009: 47.22010: 47.72011: 50.52012: 54.52013: 68.22014: 64.82016: 67.22017: 57.82018: 44.62019: 39.42020: 47.92021: 39.32022: 32.12023: 25

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2023, youth unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Jamaica stood at 24.98. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.

That represents a change of down 22.3% on the previous year and down 63.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, youth unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Jamaica peaked at 68.18 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 24.98, in 2023.

That places Jamaica 73rd out of 94 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.

Youth unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Jamaica, year by year

Annual values for Youth unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15-29) in Jamaica, 2008 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2008 45.36
2009 47.2 +4.0%
2010 47.75 +1.2%
2011 50.49 +5.7%
2012 54.48 +7.9%
2013 68.18 +25.1%
2014 64.81 -4.9%
2016 67.19 +3.7%
2017 57.76 -14.0%
2018 44.59 -22.8%
2019 39.4 -11.6%
2020 47.9 +21.6%
2021 39.31 -17.9%
2022 32.14 -18.3%
2023 24.98 -22.3%

Jamaica compared with similar countries

  • Jamaica's 24.98 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 84.97, 29% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
  • Jamaica's 24.98 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 84.97, 29% of the median. (23 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 46.28 45.36 47.2 2
2010s 54.96 39.4 68.18 9
2020s 36.08 24.98 47.9 4

Countries ranked near Jamaica

  1. 70 Hong Kong 35.82 compare
  2. 71 North Macedonia 33.39 compare
  3. 72 Niger 25.46 compare
  4. 74 Lithuania 24.98 compare
  5. 75 Bulgaria 24.92 compare
  6. 76 Mongolia 23.13 compare

See the full ranking of 94 places →

More work & labour data for Jamaica

All data for Jamaica →

Frequently asked questions

What is youth unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Jamaica?
Youth unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Jamaica was 24.98 in 2023, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest youth unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Jamaica?
The highest recorded value was 68.18 in 2013.
What is the lowest youth unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Jamaica?
The lowest recorded value was 24.98 in 2023.
How does Jamaica rank for youth unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
Jamaica ranks 73rd out of 94 countries with data for 2023.
Is youth unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Jamaica?
Over the last ten years it is down 63.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Jamaica data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Youth unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15-29). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Youth unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Jamaica. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/youth-unemployment-previous-ilo-definition-icls13-15-29/jamaica/

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About this data

Indicator
Youth unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15-29)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
94 places, 2,090 data points, 1976–2025
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Youth Labour Market Indicators (YouthSTATS) database description.