Downward trend of local unemployment continues

Saturday 15 April 2023

Fewer islanders are out of work than at the end of the previous quarter, according to the latest official unemployment report.

Statistics Jersey has published its registered unemployment report for the first quarter of 2023, which revealed that at the end of March, 610 people were registered as unemployed — 60 people lower than at the end of the previous quarter.

The number of those registered unemployed — also known as Actively Seeking Work (ASW) — is also 110 people lower than in 2021.

One-third had been registered for three months or less, however the number of new registrations was higher than that recorded in the previous quarter.

The total number of long-term ASW — which means those registered for more than twelve months —is also lower than the previous quarter.

These figures have continued a general trend of decline, since a spike in 2020 caused by the pandemic.

Pictured: The breakdown of the report, showing those Actively Seeking Work in the first quarter of 2023. 

Of the 610 people currently registered as ASW, 210 individuals were engaged in some form of paid employment but classified as "underemployed".

On 31 March 2023, 89% of individuals — a total of 540 people — registered as ASW were receiving Income Support.

The report further showed that more women (330 individuals) than men (280 individuals) were registered as ASW, and that the age-group with the highest level of individuals registered as ASW was 55-59.

The breakdown by nationality saw 86% of the total identifying as British or Jersey nationality. 8% identified as Portuguese or Madeiran, a decrease compared to the end of the previous quarter, and 5% from the EU accession. 4% were other nationalities.

Assistant Social Security Minister Deputy Malcolm Ferey said: "The numbers of people who are registered as Actively Seeking Work is the lowest it has been for some considerable time and seems to be continuing on a downward trend.

"While there have been some high profile losses in the job market recently, and my heart goes out to anyone who has been affected, employment prospects in the island remain strong."

Pictured: Assistant Social Security Minister, Malcolm Ferey is encouraging those seeking work to contact the island's Back to Work team.

He added: “I would therefore encourage employers to continue to register vacancies with the Back to Work team and also to consider providing work experience opportunities.”

Back to Work are available to support qualified islanders seeking work with:

• a dedicated advisor with one-to-one support and coaching from trained employment advisors;
• proactive job-matching with the Back to Work recruitment team;
• employment incentives and paid training schemes;
• foundations – a supported work programme run by Back to Work to increase skills and employability through working on community projects;
• training – an extensive range of courses to develop personal or work-related skills.

There is no legal requirement for unemployed residents of Jersey to register as Actively Seeking Work with Customer and Local Services.