Employment Situation: September 2011 The unemployment rate moved to 9.7% in the month of September. This increase marks 6 consecutive periods that rates have hovered above the 9% mark and signal the continued slow pace of workers returning to payrolls. The net effect of waning public sector temporary jobs, compared to minor gains in public sector growth have attributed to the periods drop in employment. In addition, unemployment claims were increased over prior period, with St. Thomas ratios moving up to 9.6%, the highest increase since this prolonged economic downturn. Employment creation continues to move in a downward direction for the 2011 cycle, despite seasonality within the local economy, private sector job growth continues to reflect reduced demand for labor , and continued austerity within existing establishments throughout the Virgin Islands have affected job expansion. The employment status for the remainder of the year will see unemployment levels remain constant with slight job openings related to holiday season, and hospitality related job creation.
Nonfarm Wage and Salary Employment: September 2011
Total nonfarm wage and salary employment in the Virgin Islands dropped by 358 from August to 42,412 in September. This drop was mainly attributable to the phasing out of summer work programs in government. These reductions outweighed the increase of 195 workers in the private sector. By contrast, the net demand for workers in the public sector contracted by 553.
Compared to the same period last year, nonfarm payroll employment shrank by 1,305 or 3.0 percent, reflecting sluggish economic activity throughout the year. Government (-668), other services (-469), manufacturing (-136) and leisure and hospitality (-100) were the hardest hit over the year. Professional and business services (-52) and education and health services (-18) also added to the total job loss. However, only trade, transportation, and utilities (+82) and information (+55) advanced from a year ago. Note: Employment includes non agricultural wage and salary employment. Data has not been benchmarked. Labor force is comprised of persons 16 and older who show up in our unemployment insurance wage data working full time or part time and actively seeking employment through VIDOL. This data set is not comparable with labor force estimates developed as part of the national cooperative program. Virgin Islands estimates reflect the use of prescribed BLS methodology but are not adjusted to an independent estimate provided through the CPS (Current Population Survey).
Source: Virgin Islands Department of Labor unemployment insurance claims data and the current employment statistics monthly survey of establishments.
Prepared by: VIDOL Bureau of Labor Statistics.
 
Labor Force Estimates (Unadjusted) provides a comprehensive body of data on the: labor force, employment, unemployment. This data is produced on a monthly basis. The labor force is comprised of persons 16 and older who show up in our unemployment insurance wage data working full time or part time and actively seeking employment through VIDOL. This data set is not comparable with labor force estimates developed as part of the national cooperative program. Virgin Islands estimates reflect the use of prescribed BLS methodology but are not adjusted to an independent estimate provided through the CPS (Current Population Survey).Source: Virgin Islands Department of Labor unemployment insurance claims data and the current employment statistics monthly survey of establishments. |
