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Unemployment in Guernsey has fallen for the eighth month in a row.
There are 363 jobseekers without work - down from 384 one month earlier and down from 541 this time last year.
Unemployment remains slightly higher than at the equivalent time of the year in 2019 - pre-covid - but the Committee Presidents responsible for employment and economic development hailed another fall in the jobless figures as indicative of the strength of Guernsey's economy.
"I am delighted at the enduring strength of the local employment market's bounce back from the covid-19 restrictions,” said Deputy Peter Roffey, President of the Committee for Employment & Social Security.
“It should be remembered that earlier this year, during the second lockdown, Guernsey had 1,000 people unemployed.
"Each one of those figures represented a family or individual who was struggling as a result. Now, after eight consecutive months of falling numbers, we are pretty much on par with where we were pre-pandemic.”
Pictured: In May 2020, towards the end of the first 'lockdown' from covid-19, unemployment hit 1,631 individuals - or 5.2% of the workforce - but it is now fewer than 400.
“The figures show how resilient the Guernsey economy is,” said Deputy Neil Inder, President of the Committee for Economic Development. "The bounce back from covid been pretty incredible.”
The number of people making new claims for employment- and income-related benefits was 27 in October compared with 31 in September.
Deputy Roffey said there had recently been a marked change in Guernsey's labour market with many businesses finding it difficult to fill vacancies.
“I am acutely aware that, rather than a shortage of jobs, Guernsey is now experiencing a shortage of staff,” said Deputy Roffey.
“This is largely down to a combination of factors from Brexit and covid-19 making it far harder to recruit guest workers to the island's changing demographics. As a result, Employment & Social Security is doing what it can to encourage islanders to be economically active even if they don't need to be.
“That said, while I am sure employers won't see it this way, of the two problems I would prefer to be tackling a shortage of staff than a shortage of jobs and large scale unemployment.”
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