Unemployment hits three-year low

Friday 10 October 2014

Figures this morning show that the number of people out of work has fallen to a three-year low point, with 1,450 unemployed at the end of September.

The figures – likely to be welcomed by ministers with just days to go until the election on Wednesday – show a drop of 40 in the number of people designated as “Actively Seeking Work”.

The figures also show that the number of people who have been jobless for six months or more was the same as the previous month, and that 240 teenagers were registered as out of work.

The unemployment numbers come on the same day that the States Statistics Unit is due to release the Labour Market Report covering the last 12 months – a major report that charts employment in different sectors of the Island’s economy.

Data going back to 2010 shows that there is a big difference in unemployment trends with men and women – although the number registered as ASW now are similar (750 men, and 700 women), back in January 2010 there was a major difference, with 770 men registered compared to 440 women.

The ASW figures only record those who register as “actively seeking work” with the Social Security department.