Jamaica—Unemployment Rate (%)
Category: Fiscal & MonetarySource: IMF World Economic Outlook ↗Global Rank: #86 of 107Series years: 2000–2025
Latest Value
3.4%
2025
YoY Change
-19.0%
2024 → 2025
Global Rank
#86
of 107 countries
Maximum
15.5%
2000
Minimum
3.4%
2025
CAGR
-5.9%
26 years
Last
3.4%
Previous
4.2%
Highest
15.5%
Lowest
3.4%
Unit
percent of labor force
Source
IMF World Economic Outlook
Jamaica's unemployment rate was 3.4% in 2025, ranking #86 out of 107 countries. This represents a -19.0% change from 2024. Over the past 26 years, the highest recorded value was 15.5% (2000) and the lowest was 3.4% (2025). Data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook.
Jamaica — Unemployment Rate (%): 3.4 percent of labor force for reference year 2025. Source: International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook). Reference year does not establish final observed status; publisher vintage is not verified here. The previous reference-year reading was 4.2 percent of labor force in 2024.
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3.4% | -19.0% |
| 2024 | 4.2% | -4.5% |
| 2023 | 4.4% | -30.2% |
| 2022 | 6.3% | -25.0% |
| 2021 | 8.4% | -17.6% |
| 2020 | 10.2% | +32.5% |
| 2019 | 7.7% | -15.4% |
| 2018 | 9.1% | -22.2% |
| 2017 | 11.7% | -11.4% |
| 2016 | 13.2% | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 13.5% | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 13.8% | -9.8% |
| 2013 | 15.3% | +10.1% |
| 2012 | 13.9% | +12.1% |
| 2011 | 12.4% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 12.4% | +8.8% |
| 2009 | 11.4% | +7.5% |
| 2008 | 10.6% | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 9.9% | -3.9% |
| 2006 | 10.3% | -8.0% |
| 2005 | 11.2% | -8.2% |
| 2004 | 12.2% | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 11.8% | -16.9% |
| 2002 | 14.2% | -5.3% |
| 2001 | 15.0% | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 15.5% |
Top Countries — Unemployment Rate (%)
| # | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sudan | 61.3% | 2026 |
| 2 | South Africa | 32.5% | 2026 |
| 3 | Jordan | 21.3% | 2026 |
| 4 | Tunisia | 15.2% | 2025 |
| 5 | Georgia | 13.9% | 2026 |
| 6 | Armenia | 12.8% | 2026 |
| 7 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 12.6% | 2026 |
| 8 | Morocco | 12.2% | 2026 |
| 9 | North Macedonia | 11.5% | 2026 |
| 10 | Panama | 10.4% | 2026 |
About This Indicator
Definition
Unemployed people as a share of the labor force.
Methodology
Most countries follow the International Labour Organization (ILO) definition: unemployed persons are those of working age who are without work, have actively sought work in the past four weeks, and are available to take up work. The labor force includes both employed and unemployed persons. The IMF compiles data from national labor force surveys and administrative records.
Unit
percent of labor force
Source: International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)Available series: 2000–2025View original source →