The continued increase in employment of women in the wholesale and retail, repair of motor vehicle and equipment sector will create a multiplier effect of more growth for the economy, State Minister in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service Fayval Williams has noted.

Data from the latest Labour Force Survey conducted by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) in April 2017 showed that employment of women within the wholesale and retail, repair of motor vehicle and equipment sector stood at 119,700 in April 2017 up from 117,100 employed in 2016.

Overall, the wholesale and retail, repair of motor vehicle and equipment sector continues to be the largest employer of people, employing 230,800 in April 2017 up from 226,300 in April 2016.

Speaking on the economic impact of employment of women, Williams noted that the trend will translate not only to improved economic standing for these workers, but also their families.

“The effect of these new jobs is that the economy will eventually see growth in so many other areas as these women turn over the money that they earn through community-based savings plans such as partners as well through business ventures that they will set up,” Minister Williams said.

“Our local women are very resourceful and will no doubt find a way to multiply their earnings to improve themselves and their families,” she continued.

Employment for women increased from 509,300 people in April 2016 to 534,400 in April 2017. This translated to an additional 25,100 jobs or 70 per cent of the total jobs created for this comparison period.

Overall, the survey showed that the occupational group ‘Professionals, Senior Officials and Technicians’ had the largest increase in the number of people employed, an increase of 7.4 per cent or 18,200 people.

In addition, employment of men increased by 10,700 or 1.6 per cent between April 2016 and April 2017.

The industry group ‘Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry and Fishing’ was the largest employer of men with 160,300 employed in April 2017 up from the 157,200 men who were employed in April 2016.

There was also growth in the number of people employed in the ‘Service Workers and Shop and Market Sales Workers’ group.

For this group, the employment figure, increased by 7,800 people or 2.9 per cent moving from 267,600 people in April 2016 to 275,400 in April 2017.

The largest percentage increase in employment, however, was seen in the industry group ‘Real Estate, Renting and Business Activities’ which increased by 12.8 per cent or 9,700 people moving from 75,900 in April 2016 to 85,600 in April 2017.

The survey also showed that the total labour force stood at 1,371,600 people for the review period. This is an increase of 17,700 or 1.3 per cent compared with 1,353,900 in April 2016.

“The growth in the labour force is an indication of increased optimism as persons are considering that their job prospects are better and are continuing to enter the labour force to look for jobs,” Minister Williams also noted.

Interestingly, the number of people in the working age population who were outside the labour force also decreased for both men and women.

Some 722,100 people were classified as being outside the labour force in April 2017.

This represents a decrease of 13,300 or 1.8 per cent compared with 735,400 people recorded in April 2016.

The number of men outside the labour force also decreased, moving from 295,500 to 286,500, while the number of women decreased by 4,300 or 1.0 per cent down from 439,900 to 435,600.