694,000 Jamaicans remain outside the labour force says STATIN
Despite Jamaica’s unemployment rate dipping to 3.6 per cent in July, some 694,200 individuals remain outside the labour force.
This is according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) in its latest labour force survey released on Friday.
According to the survey, more females (410,800 or 59.2%) than males (283,400 or 40.8%) are affected.
“Of the persons outside the labour force, 32,200 or 4.6 per cent were classified as part of the potential labour force. The potential labour force includes individuals seeking employment but not available to work, and those who are available for work but not looking for a job,” said STATIN.
The Institute said there were 299,800 youth aged 15 to 24 years outside the labour force, of which 147,400 were males and 152,400 were females. It said one in four youths (123,200 or 25.2%) was neither employed, enrolled in educational activities, nor participating in training. Some 63,200 were males and 60,000 were females.
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