Unemployment dropping – recovery on its way?

Wednesday 11 February 2015

Unemployment has fallen to the lowest level for more than three years.

According to the latest figures, the number of people looking for work in Jersey dropped by 80 to stand at 1,490 in January.

But the main figure that statisticians use to measure unemployment by removing the usual seasonal variations shows that underlying unemployment is now at its lowest since August 2011.

Figures released by the States Statistics Unit show that of the people unemployed, 210 had been registered with the Social Security department as actively seeking work for a year or more.

They also show that 370 of those unemployed were under 25, and 208 were between 16 and 19.

But the statistics show that it is still those in retail, motor and hospitality trades who are having the most trouble trying to find work.

They show that 22% of the jobless were previously employed in retail, wholesale or motor trades, and 17% were previously employed in hotels, restaurants, pubs and clubs.