Articles

News and guides about work and employment in Jamaica.

Jamaica's July 2026 Labour Force Survey: What the Numbers Really Say

20 Oct 2026 · Splash Jamaica

Jamaica's unemployment rate was 3.4% in July 2026, barely changed from 3.3% a year earlier, according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). But the headline figure hides a bigger story: fewer people are working, and more people have stepped out of the labour force altogether. Here is a plain-English look…

Jamaica's Minimum Wage Is Now $17,000: What Workers and Employers Need to Know

20 Oct 2026 · Splash Jamaica

Since July 1, 2026, Jamaica's national minimum wage has been $17,000 for a 40-hour work week, up from $16,000. That works out to $425 an hour, and every employer is legally required to pay at least that rate. Here is what changed, why the increase was smaller than first promised, and what it means on your payslip.