Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Jamaica
Jamaica: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 3.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Jamaica, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Jamaica is 3.3%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and down 62.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Jamaica peaked at 9.7% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 2023.
That places Jamaica 138th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 6.2% | — |
| 1992 | 6.4% | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 6.2% | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 6.3% | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 6.3% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 6.6% | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 6.7% | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 6.8% | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 6.8% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 6.8% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 6.6% | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 6.6% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 6.5% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 6.5% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 6.6% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 6.6% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 6.6% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 6.7% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 7.3% | +9.7% |
| 2010 | 7.6% | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 8.0% | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 8.7% | +8.2% |
| 2013 | 9.7% | +11.5% |
| 2014 | 9.0% | -6.7% |
| 2015 | 8.8% | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 8.6% | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 7.4% | -14.3% |
| 2018 | 5.5% | -26.1% |
| 2019 | 5.0% | -8.8% |
| 2020 | 6.5% | +30.4% |
| 2021 | 5.2% | -20.2% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | -21.3% |
| 2023 | 3.0% | -26.0% |
| 2024 | 3.2% | +4.3% |
| 2025 | 3.3% | +4.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.5% | 6.2% | 6.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.7% | 6.5% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.8% | 5.0% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.2% | 3.0% | 6.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More education data for Jamaica
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 11,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 4,597 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 52,983 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 51,265 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 177,095 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 211,097 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 8.14 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0744 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Jamaica?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Jamaica was 3.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 9.7% in 2013.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 2023.
- How does Jamaica rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Jamaica ranks 138th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Jamaica data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.