Photo: Konstantin Papushin · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Jamaica: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Jamaica is placed 25th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 67.28 (2025); Labour Income Share 53.45 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
25th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Jamaica on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
67.28
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Jamaica: 67.28. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Caribbean
- 67.28 Jamaica
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
3.286
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Jamaica: 3.286. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Caribbean
- 1.746 Cuba
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
31.56
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Jamaica: 31.56. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Caribbean
- 5.474 United States Virgin Islands
02Over time
Which way Jamaica is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
JamaicaWorld median
Jamaica rose from 62.17 in 2000 to 67.28 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Jamaica World median 2025 67.28 57.720 2024 67.26 57.694 2023 67.37 58.158 2022 64.89 57.688 2021 62.29 56.066 2020 60.62 55.691 2019 63.63 57.871 2018 61.90 56.911 2017 60.82 56.738 2016 59.32 56.845 2015 59.72 56.788 2014 56.89 56.774 2013 55.85 56.229 2012 55.45 56.289 2011 55.93 56.297 2010 55.88 56.212 2009 57.63 56.255 2008 60.09 57.308 2007 60.40 56.933 2006 60.65 56.685 2005 60.89 56.129 2004 61.09 55.465 2003 61.13 55.630 2002 61.41 55.843 2001 61.72 56.018 2000 62.17 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
JamaicaWorld median
Jamaica fell from 56.37 in 2004 to 53.45 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Jamaica World median 2025 53.447 46.230 2024 54.171 46.060 2023 53.279 45.900 2022 52.321 45.615 2021 51.708 45.433 2020 55.981 47.267 2019 53.853 46.277 2018 53.837 46.187 2017 54.049 46.467 2016 54.839 46.798 2015 55.337 46.876 2014 56.362 47.281 2013 56.818 46.887 2012 59.057 46.231 2011 56.368 45.679 2010 58.176 46.024 2009 58.445 47.071 2008 58.675 45.312 2007 56.893 45.246 2006 56.329 45.670 2005 55.477 46.265 2004 56.371 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
JamaicaWorld median
Jamaica fell from 6.752 in 2000 to 3.286 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Jamaica World median 2025 3.286 5.08 2024 3.151 5.15 2023 3.022 5.21 2022 4.083 5.34 2021 5.188 6.04 2020 6.501 6.38 2019 4.987 5.36 2018 5.470 5.35 2017 7.399 5.59 2016 8.634 5.90 2015 8.825 6.41 2014 9.046 6.58 2013 9.698 6.71 2012 8.695 6.79 2011 8.034 6.90 2010 7.630 7.04 2009 7.314 6.67 2008 6.666 5.79 2007 6.607 6.00 2006 6.605 6.50 2005 6.577 7.09 2004 6.539 6.80 2003 6.534 6.95 2002 6.616 6.91 2001 6.641 6.96 2000 6.752 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
JamaicaWorld median
Jamaica fell from 38.07 in 2000 to 31.56 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Jamaica World median 2025 31.556 28.67 2024 31.663 29.04 2023 31.728 29.33 2022 33.107 29.67 2021 34.242 30.01 2020 34.692 30.54 2019 34.142 29.98 2018 35.357 30.15 2017 35.822 29.93 2016 36.540 29.91 2015 37.012 30.26 2014 37.530 30.47 2013 37.586 31.14 2012 37.518 31.00 2011 37.001 31.41 2010 38.897 32.37 2009 38.218 32.59 2008 35.807 31.76 2007 33.473 33.47 2006 35.490 34.27 2005 34.657 34.66 2004 36.151 35.51 2003 35.981 35.90 2002 35.959 35.96 2001 37.517 35.27 2000 38.065 35.67
03In context
Jamaica beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Jamaica and Caribbean
Jamaica has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaica | 25th | 67.28 | 53.45 | 3.286 | 31.56 |
 Barbados | =54th | 60.47 | 55.58 | 6.524 | 18.8 |
 Trinidad and Tobago | 68th | 55.83 | 45.2 | 3.329 | 21.25 |
 Puerto Rico | =72nd | 40.22 | 59 | 5.991 | 10.31 |
 Cuba | =78th | 51.34 | 41.31 | 1.746 | 19.32 |
 Dominican Republic | =83rd | 61.54 | 48.4 | 5.092 | 37.99 |
 United States Virgin Islands | 89th | 48.14 | 55.98 | 11.44 | 5.474 |
 Saint Lucia | 91st | 61.81 | 47.41 | 9.452 | 21.99 |
 Bahamas | 108th | 66.98 | 34.41 | 9.207 | 15.94 |
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 131st | 55.68 | 46.79 | 18 | 21.96 |
 Haiti | 155th | 54.38 | 52.18 | 14.94 | 76.04 |
 Anguilla | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Antigua and Barbuda | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Aruba | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 British Virgin Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Cayman Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Curaçao | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Dominica | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Grenada | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Montserrat | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Saint Martin | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Sint Maarten | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Turks and Caicos Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Caribbean
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
- Jamaica25th
- Barbados=54th
- Trinidad and Tobago68th
- Puerto Rico=72nd
- Cuba=78th
- Dominican Republic=83rd
- United States Virgin Islands89th
- Saint Lucia91st
- Bahamas108th
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines131st
- Haiti155th
- Anguillanot placed
- Antigua and Barbudanot placed
- Arubanot placed
- British Virgin Islandsnot placed
- Cayman Islandsnot placed
- Curaçaonot placed
- Dominicanot placed
- Grenadanot placed
- Montserratnot placed
- Saint Kitts and Nevisnot placed
- Saint Martinnot placed
- Sint Maartennot placed
- Turks and Caicos Islandsnot placed
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Jamaica in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Jamaica is ahead of the world, and behind
23 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median7
Statistics on which Jamaica does better than the middle country measured.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1637.8919.16No earlier reading
Jamaica: 37.89 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 12th of 179 · derived.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3663.0353.36▲ Improved since 2015
Jamaica: 63.03 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 29th of 182 · derived.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6669.5761.66▲ Improved since 2015
Jamaica: 69.57 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 30th of 182 · derived.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.8850.774.885▼ Worsened since 2015
Jamaica: 0.77 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.611.381.61No real change since 2015
Jamaica: 1.38 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8310.8112.83▲ Improved since 2015
Jamaica: 10.81 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 103rd of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,23031,95025,230No real change since 2010
Jamaica: 31,950 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 70th of 151 · derived.
Behind the world median8
Statistics on which Jamaica does worse than the middle country measured.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,7425,1896,742▲ Improved since 2015
Jamaica: 5,189 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 83rd of 151 · derived.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.939.645.9No earlier reading
Jamaica: 39.6 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0722.9732.07No earlier reading
Jamaica: 22.97 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38420,65947,384▼ Worsened since 2015
Jamaica: 20,659 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 123rd of 168 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.168.8122.16▼ Worsened since 2015
Jamaica: 8.81 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 136th of 182 · derived.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Jamaica: 0 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 985698No real change since 2015
Jamaica: 56 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8173.4241.81No earlier reading
Jamaica: 73.42 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 10th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Jamaica: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end7
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8943.4338.89Moved since 2015
Jamaica: 43.43 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 34th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5168.9359.51Moved since 2015
Jamaica: 68.93 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 64th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8435.7531.84Moved since 2015
Jamaica: 35.75 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 85th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95669.53657.95Moved since 2014
Jamaica: 669.53 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3813.9414.38No real change since 2015
Jamaica: 13.94 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 94th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.0112.1315.01No earlier reading
Jamaica: 12.13 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.
Position 79th of 135 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8817.1318.88Moved since 2015
Jamaica: 17.13 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 112th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Jamaica
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2014), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2014), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2014), Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate (last 2014), Share of Temporary Employees (last 2023), Trade Union Density and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2023). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Jamaica’s 16 topics
Work & Labour is Jamaica’s best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Work & Labour25th of 1824/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 34th of 1834/4 keys
- Peace & Security36th of 1774/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge43rd of 1984/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties51st of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions56th of 1944/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation93rd of 1763/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience103rd of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality86th of 1593/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing120th of 2004/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture112th of 1844/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade110th of 1773/4 keys
- Digital & Technology125th of 1984/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital132nd of 1963/3 keys
- Energy123rd of 1653/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 143rd of 1864/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Jamaica can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
United States14th4/4 keysHighest in Caribbean
Jamaica25th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Jamaica and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Jamaica on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Jamaica rank on work & labour?
Jamaica is placed 25th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Jamaica?
67.28 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Jamaica?
53.45 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How have Jamaica’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio rose from 62.17 in 2000 to 67.28 in 2025; Labour Income Share fell from 56.37 in 2004 to 53.45 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 6.752 in 2000 to 3.286 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 38.07 in 2000 to 31.56 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Jamaica?
No current reading is published for Jamaica on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Share of Temporary Employees, Trade Union Density and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 23 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Jamaica’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Jamaica (banner) — Konstantin Papushin, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Jamaica: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/jamaica/work