Unemployment Dropped in 1st Quarter

The latest job numbers from the Central Statistics Department confirms national unemployment has declined.

Between January and March of 2017, 20.1% of Saint Lucians were out of work.

The numbers for the typically busy shopping period in during the previous 4^th quarter of 2016 were not positive. Unemployment then stood at to 21.6%. 2017 first quarter stats represent a 1.5% improvement over the fourth quarter of last year.

2017 first quarter hiring was lead by;

1. Accommodation and food services sector 17.8%

[2.4% better than the previous 4^th quarter]

2. Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 13.3%

[A marked decline of 1.4% from the previous 4^th quarter]

3. Agriculture, forestry and fishing 10%

[1.1% decline from the previous 4^th quarter.]

4. Construction 9%

Youth unemployment also went down in the first quarter – from 43.1% between October to December 2016, to 38.7% between January and March of 2017.

The decline in youth unemployment represents a 4.4% improvement in the first quarter of 2017.