Williams: Over 24,000 J’cans have joined the labour force
Published:Friday | July 25, 2025 | 12:05 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Finance Minister Fayval Williams says Jamaica has reach a historic milestone as more than 24,000 Jamaicans have recently joined the workforce, saying that the number includes over 11,000 people who were previously not seeking employment.
Speaking at an event on Tuesday, Williams described the figures as a powerful testament to the country’s economic transformation and policy credibility.
“I have to say 24,200 more persons are employed, but what needs to be told is that 11,400 of that 24,200 came from outside the labour force, which means they were on the sidelines not looking for a job,” said Williams.
“I can declare that the job opportunity was so compelling that they came off the sidelines and are now part of the employed labour force, and that says a lot about what’s happening in Jamaica right now,” she added.
According to the latest report from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), the unemployment rate has now dropped to a record low of 3.3 per cent, a decline from the previous record-low 3.7 per cent.
In April 2025, STATIN reported an increase in employment, with 1,444,500 individuals employed, a rise of 24,200, or 1.7 per cent, compared to April 2024. The overall unemployment rate was 3.3 per cent. The labour force participation rate saw a slight decrease to 69.3 per cent, down 0.5 percentage points from the previous year.