Unemployment Figures Show Massive Loss Of Livelihoods

The coronavirus outbreak has not only affected lives but also livelihoods. This as, the Statistical Institute of Jamaica is reporting that the country’s unemployment figures increased by 51.2% in July compared to the same period last year, majority of it due to COVID 19, leaving at least 160-thousand Jamaicans out of a job.

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica has reported that a whopping 161-thousand 300 Jamaicans have lost their jobs in July compared to  the similar period last year. The figure represent a 4.8 percent increase in the country’s unemployment figures .

Director General of STATIN, Carol coy says majority of the labour force declined in the services industry.

Minister of Finance, Dr. Nigel Clarke took to Twitter to comment that it took the country 4 years, that is January 2016  to January 2020 to add 100-thousand jobs to the economy .

And in just six months , those jobs have seemingly been affected by the coronavirus.

Deputy Director General Leesha Delatie-Budaire says the study included a COVID impact  which included the over 10-thousand household as part of the labour study.  It revealed that over 50-thousand people were laid off from work due to the outbreak.

The study also found out that majority of households are receiving some form of relief from Government.

The COVID allocation resource for employees, CARE Programme has been assisting thousands of citizens during the pandemic. Others have resorted to farming, depending on remittances or loans from family and friends to ease the financial burden.