Jamaica’s Department of Work Permits received 6,089 applications for work permits for 2019/20

Market News

December 30, 2021

December 30, 2021

The Department of Work Permits received 6,089 applications for work permits for the 2019/20 fiscal year. When compared to the previous fiscal year, this is a decline of 710 (or 10.4%). There were 2,624 new applicants among the total number of applications received, accounting for 43% of the total.

In the fiscal year 2019/20, 5,939 work permit applications were issued, a drop of 705 or 11% from the preceding reporting period. Furthermore, the data shows that 3,419 of the total were renewals, accounting for 57.5% of the total.

With 1,985 work permits granted, the occupational category “Professionals” was the most popular. With 1,614 and 1,330, respectively, the categories “Technicians and Associate Professionals” and “Managers” came in second and third.

In terms of approvals per industry, the figures show that “Wholesale and Retail Trade, Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles” received the most (2,170 or 36.5%) of work permit approvals. Renewals accounted for 1,476 of these. This was followed by the “Construction” industry (1,304 or 22%). “Activities of Extraterritorial Organizations and Bodies” had the fewest (2) work permit approvals, which were also renewals.

Employment Situation in Jamaica

STATIN estimates that 1,215,000 persons were employed in July 2021. When compared to July 2020, this was an increase of 93,400 individuals, or 8.3%. The unemployment rate in July 2021 was 8.5%, 4.1 percentage points lower than the rate of 12.6% in July 2020. This decrease was mostly driven by a decline in the male unemployment rate. Male unemployment fell by 5.2 percentage points to 6.3% in July 2021, while female unemployment fell by 2.9 percentage points to 11.1%. Male employment climbed by 55,700 (9.0%), while female employment increased by 37,700 (7.5%). The number of unemployed people was 112,500, a 30.4% reduction from July 2020. In July 2021, the number of unemployed males fell by 35,000 (43.4%) to 45,700. The number of unemployed females fell by 14,200 (17.5%) to 66,800.

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