Jamaica Hits Record Low Unemployment of 3.3% in April 2025

Jamaica’s unemployment rate fell to a historic low of 3.3 percent in April 2025, according to the latest Labour Force Survey by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), marking a significant milestone in the country’s economic progress.

This represents a notable decline from 4.2 percent in April 2024, driven by robust job growth across key sectors. The total employed workforce increased by 24,200 year-over-year, with the services, sales, and public administration sectors leading the surge.

Female workers accounted for the majority of new jobs, with employment rising by 16,800 compared to 7,300 for men. The “Services and Sales Workers” category added more than 21,000 jobs, while Public Administration and Defence saw over 8,000 new hires.

The national labor force now totals 1.49 million people, with 1.44 million employed – nearly 68 percent of whom are aged 25 to 54.

The drop in unemployment was accompanied by reduced underemployment and fewer people leaving the workforce. A total of 12,800 fewer individuals were unemployed, and 11,300 fewer were classified as non-participants, many of them women.

Youth unemployment also declined significantly, with 9,800 fewer young people unemployed compared to the previous year.

Based on data collected in April 2025, STATIN officials attributed the gains to strong economic momentum, particularly in female workforce participation and public sector expansion.