Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Jamaica
Jamaica: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 3.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Jamaica, 1969–2023
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Jamaica stood at 3.0%. That is the lowest value across all 52 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 26.0% on the previous year and down 68.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Jamaica peaked at 35.5% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 2023.
That places Jamaica 146th out of 185 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 52 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 17.6% | 17.6% | 17.6% | 1 |
| 1970s | 22.8% | 19.7% | 27.6% | 8 |
| 1980s | 25.7% | 16.8% | 35.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.9% | 15.3% | 16.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.3% | 6.7% | 15.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.7% | 5.0% | 9.7% | 9 |
| 2020s | 4.7% | 3.0% | 6.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More reference data data for Jamaica
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.4942 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.833 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.9087 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.32 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.994 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 233.16 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Jamaica?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Jamaica was 3.0% in 2023, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 35.5% in 1980.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 2023.
- How does Jamaica rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- Jamaica ranks 146th out of 185 countries with data for 2023.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 68.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Jamaica data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 52 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.