Barbados’ unemployment rate seems to be on a downward trajectory, estimated to have been 15.9 per cent at the end of June this year.
The Continuous Household Labour Force Survey released by the Barbados Statistical Service (BSS), showed that between April and June this year the unemployment rate for males contracted to 14.1 per cent, while for females, the unemployment rate rose slightly to 17.8 per cent.
In the latest survey, it was estimated that some 21,700 Barbadians were unemployed during the review period, while the total number of employed persons was estimated at 114,400 (60,200 males and 54,200 females), expanding from 105,700 persons in the previous quarter.
“On the other hand, the total number of inactive persons was down from 89,900 persons to 80,600 persons in the quarter under review. As a result, the total labour force is now estimated to be 136,100 persons,” the BSS said.
The labour market participation rate for April to June 2021 was estimated at 62.6 per cent.
“The unemployment rate for the 2nd quarter of 2021 was 1.3 percentage points less than the rate of 17.2 per cent recorded for the 1st quarter of 2021. The labour force participation rate was 3.9 percentage points more than the figure of 58.7 per cent recorded for the 1st quarter of 2021,” the BSS said.
Further dissection of the labour force survey, which is based primarily on the 2010 population census, showed that the wholesale and retail trade industry accounted for the majority of employment with some 15,400 people during the review period.
This was followed by public administration and defence at 12,500 persons; accommodation and food services (11,400); construction, mining and quarrying industry (9,700); manufacturing (7,700); and education (7,400).
The industry classified as other groups accounted for 7,100 people. This group is made up of information and communication, activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies, real estate and arts, entertainment and recreation.
Majority of persons employed during the period were between the ages of 20 and 44 years (54,500). This was followed by those age 45 to 64 (51,600); 65 years and older (5,700) and age 15 to 19 years-old (2,600).
In relation to the unemployed, the age group most out of a job is between 20 and 40 years (13,600). This was followed by the 45 to 64 age group at 5,500 people. Some 2,100 people between the age of 15 and 19 years were considered unemployed for the review period and 500 people 65 years-old and over.
The survey showed that the number of government employees increased to 25,600, at the end of June, compared to 21,900 at the end of March last year.
There was also a marginal increase in the number of private sector employees during the period to 66,300, compared to 66,100 at the end of March.
The number of self-employed individuals was estimated to be around 21,600 at the end of June this year, compared to 17,000 at the end of March.
“Unpaid family worker” accounted for 200 people while “other” accounted for 100 people and the number of employers totalled 600 for the review period.
There was an estimated 700 employers at the end of March this year. (MM)
