Unemployment hits a three-year low

Wednesday 12 November 2014

The number of people out of work is at its lowest since September 2011.

Figures for October show that there were 1,430 people out of work and registered with the Social Security department – 20 fewer than the previous month, and the second successive fall in the monthly figures.

The total included around 230 people who had been out of work for more than 12 months, and 220 teenagers.

The number of teenagers registered as out of work was 100 fewer than this time last year.

The latest figures have been released by the Social Security department, measuring the number of people who are registered with them as being out of work. Nearly three-quarters of those out of work were receiving Income Support.

Jersey’s last robust unemployment figures were released in the Jersey Annual Social Survey, which said that the rate was 4.6% in June 2014, which worked out at around 2,800 people. At the end of July, the comparable UK unemployment rate was 6.2%.

The Social Security figures showed that almost half of those registered with the department as actively seeking work had been on their books for three months or less.

Of the 1,430, 83% were of British/Jersey nationality, and 21% were last improved in the retail/wholesale or motor trades.