FOR THE FIRST quarter (January to March) 2016, unemployment stood at 9.3 per cent.
According to data produced by the Barbados Statistical Service, the unemployment rate among males stood at 8.7 per cent and 10.0 per cent among females.
In the review period, the number of persons employed totaled 131 300; of whom 67 300 were males and 64 000 were females. The total number of unemployed persons stood at 13 600; some 6 400 males and 7 200 females. In total, the number of persons in the labour force stood at 144 900.
The number of persons not actively looking for work, hence excluded from the labour force, was 76 700 persons. The labour force participation rate stood at 65.3 per cent, with participation among males at 69.6 per cent and 61.4 per cent among females.
For the first quarter of 2016, the Wholesale and Retail Trade sector generated jobs for the largest number of persons, employing 20 200 persons, while the Accommodation & Food Services sector employed 17 400 persons. The Construction, Mining and Quarrying sector generated employment for 12 500 persons and the Manufacturing sector generated employment for 11 600 persons.
Employment in the Public Administration and Defence sector reached 9 200 persons, while the Other Groups sector reached 8 300 persons. The Administrative and Support Service sector and the Transportation and Storage sector employed 7 000 persons and 6 700 persons respectively. (Economic Affairs Division/BGIS)
