Today’s report that St. Maarten’s unemployment rate was down to 6.2 per cent during the first quarter of the year is obviously most welcome. In 2013 the figure stood at 9.2 per cent, although it must be pointed out that back then the same Labour Force Survey was done during the low season.
Based on the Population Census the rate had still been 11.5 per cent in April 2011. The Labour Force Survey held in June 2009 gave as result 12.2 per cent and that of March 2007 10.6 per cent.
Some might be a bit sceptical about all this, as a lot of people seem to be out of a job. It’s important to remember that “unemployed” in this case is characterised as persons looking for work in the four prior weeks, which could mean many may have simply stopped trying.
It is therefore relevant to note that the number of “economically inactive” grew by 31 per cent, from 7,482 in 2013 to 9,846. As the labour force as a whole grew by only 6 per cent, the population in general by 12.1 per cent and the number of employed persons by 9.5 per cent, one would have to conclude that more persons indeed see and/or have no realistic prospect of finding work. The so-called “participation rate” also went down by 3.1 per cent, from 58.2 per cent in 2013 to 55.1 per cent.
So, while the overall news is good, making sure fewer people are “left out” of the job market altogether deserves priority. Better education, including vocational training and teaching practical skills, remains the best way to do so.
