10.1% was Saint Lucia’s unemployment rate in April-June, down from 12.1% in Q1 and 13.4% a year earlier, according to the latest Labour Force Survey.
99,528 people were employed in Q2, up 691 from the prior quarter and 1,677 year on year, lifting the employment rate to 89.9% from 87.9% in Q1.
15.5% was the youth unemployment rate, improving from 18.5% in Q1 and 24.1% a year earlier as hiring strengthened across sectors.
14% growth in construction jobs and a 35.1% jump in administrative and support services helped drive the gains, while accommodation and food services remained the largest employer at 16.4% of jobs.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre’s government tied the improvement to investment and infrastructure projects, saying it will keep pushing business support, foreign investment and workforce development.