19.5% of Barbados youth unemployed

Official data indicates youth unemployment in Barbados has fallen over the past year.

However, with the jobless rate among young people at 19.5 per cent at the end of June, it is higher than the Caribbean and global level, based on information from the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Calling youth unemployment here “concerning”, President of the Human Resources Association of Barbados Nicholas Roberts says the worry extends to the number of youth who are under-employed.

A Central Bank of Barbados staff analysis of titled, Labour Market Performance In The First Half Of 2024 and based on data from the Barbados Statistical Service, says that the overall unemployment rate dropped from 8.5 per cent in the second quarter of 2023 to 7.7 per cent in the second quarter of this year. “Youth unemployment also saw an improvement, decreasing from 22.1 per cent over the first half of 2023 to 19.5 per cent over the corresponding period of 2024. This trend reflects enhanced opportunities for young job seekers, possibly due to expanding job opportunities in sectors like retail and hospitality that typically absorb younger workers,” the analysis published as part of the January to September economic review states.