Seasonal unemployment peak

Monday 21 January 2019

Unemployment jumped in Guernsey during the last three months of 2018, at a time when seasonally festive jobs are usually available.

The latest statistics show that 293 people were registered as unemployed at the end of December, compared with 274 at the end of the last quarter.

That is however down 12 on the year before showing an overall downward trend.

The way unemployment statistics are made up showed that a further 367 people were also registered as unemployed but they had done some work, perhaps casual or part time, during those three months.

Deputy Michelle Le Clerc, President of the Committee for Employment & Social Security, said:

"Guernsey continues to have low unemployment, with a buoyant Job Seeker market. The reduction in the year on year figure and increase of people in training courses is particularly pleasing.”

Pictured: Deputy Michelle Le Clerc. 

The quarterly unemployment report also highlighted statistics for the average number of people unemployed throughout the fourth quarter which is calculated by averaging out snapshots taken on the last Saturday of each month.

The average number of jobseekers during the fourth quarter of 2018 stood at 285, compared with 274 for the last quarter.  

Other stats highlighted include 43 people on training schemes as at the end of December; with 46 islanders having attended short courses run through the Job Centre during the third quarter. 186 people have attended short courses so far this year.

The Job Centre continues to promote vacant job roles via its website, with 851 adverts promoted during quarter four, up from  704 during the same period last year.

Pictured top: Unemployment levels continue to fluctuate.