Latest data shows impact of Hurricane Melissa among other things to be blamed

Jamaica’s unemployment rate has risen to 3.7% based on the latest Labour Force Survey for April 2026, released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN).

The number of unemployed persons was estimated at 55,000, up from 50,000, while a total of 1,418,800 persons were employed, representing a contraction of 25,700 individuals.

The total number of persons outside the labour force was estimated at 681,900, an increase of 20,500. The reference week for the survey was April 12–18, 2026. 

For the April 2026 survey, STATIN continued to deploy an abridged version of the standard LFS questionnaire in selected enumeration districts across the western parishes of St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. James, Hanover, and Trelawny. 

These parishes continued to experience disruptions following the passage of Hurricane Melissa which made landfall on October 28, 2025. The use of the shortened questionnaire enabled the ongoing estimation of core labour market indicators; however, some of the usual indicators could not be produced for the quarter.