Unemployment in Barbados at the end of last year stood at 11.3 per cent, according to statistics from the Continuous Household Labour Force Survey.
A release from the Economic Affairs Division of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs said that the jobless rate among males for the fourth quarter (October to December) of 2012 stood at 10.7 per cent and among women, 11.9 per cent.
In the review period, the number of Barbadians employed totalled 124 800, of whom 64 000 were males and 60 800 were females.
On the other hand, the number of unemployed totalled 15 900 with 7 700 of them men and 8 200 women.
The release said the total labour force was 140 700, consisting of 71 700 males and 69 000 females.
The number of persons not actively looking for work, hence excluded from the labour force was 73 500 persons. That included 29 600 males and 43 900 females.
The labour force participation rate stood at 65.7 per cent with participation among males at 70.8 per cent and 61.1 per cent among females.
In the fourth quarter of 2012, the wholesale and retail trade sector generated jobs for the largest number, employing 20 400 people, while the accommodation and food services employed 13 400.
The construction, mining and quarrying sector generated employment for 12 500 and the manufacturing sector generated employment for 10 000. Employment in the public administration and defence sector reached 9 500, while employment levels in education reached 7 400. The transportation and storage sector and the human health and social work sector employed 6 900 and 6 600 respectively.
Another 6 500 found work in category of other sector and the administrative and support service sector generated employment for 5 800. Employment in the finance and insurance sector stood at 5 300, while employment in the professional, scientific and technical services sector stood at 5 000. The employment generated in activities of households as employers was 4 900.
During the review period, employment recorded in the other services sector stood at 4 700, while employment levels in the agriculture, forestry and fishing stood at 3 100. The electric, gas, steam, water and air conditioning supply sector generated jobs for 3 000 people during the fourth quarter. (BGIS)
