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The number of people needing to claim unemployment benefits has more than trebled since the covid crisis reached the Bailiwick with the number of people out of work now the highest it has been in years.
At the end of March 497 people were considered out of work - that had risen to 1,631 by the end of May.
The latest statistics, released by the States today - show a slight rise during May with the unemployment figure for the month ending the week of 2 May being 1,568.
More detailed figures are due to be released by the States next week with a breakdown of the unemployment statistics for April and May - when the islands were in full lockdown forcing many businesses to close, and when those restrictions started being relaxed.
Pictured: Deputy Michelle Le Clerc, President of the Committee for Employment and Social Security.
The data is published by the Committee for Employment and Social Security, which has said there has been a problem with the system used for collating unemployment statistics and that has meant the figures could not be released monthly, in the normal way. However, ESS said that "recognising that these figures are of particular relevance now as the Bailiwick faces the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the States prepares to debate the 'Revive and Thrive' Recovery Strategy", it has chosen to publish the headline statistics now with more details to follow.
Deputy Michelle Le Clerc, President of ESS said:
“Now more than ever it’s important we can see clearly what is happening in our workforce and how many people have found themselves out of work as a result of this crisis. Not being able to produce these figures in the normal way has been a frustration, but our team has worked hard to get out the key information as quickly as possible and the detail will follow soon.
"We will be doing more to help bring the numbers down and get more people who have lost jobs back into work. In the coming weeks we’ll be actively promoting the different ways Employment & Social Security can support jobseekers, help them identify vacancies and develop skills through various schemes.”
Pictured: Edward T Wheadon House.
In March 2012, the BBC reported that Guernsey's unemployment level was "at its highest level for about 15 years".
Social Security figures from February that year showed 454 people were out of work in Guernsey, with 151 working part time and 36 on a training scheme.
The total of 641, was 1.4% of the island's working population at the time. The States Economist then, Dr Andy Sloan said the last time unemployment was that high had been in the mid-1990s.
ESS has said that while unemployment figures remain high now, compared to the very low levels normally seen in Guernsey, it is expected that the figure will fall in June as more businesses are able to reopen.
The figures for May are likely to also include some people who have already found work but are yet to receive their first wages and will therefore still be included in the statistics.
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