Measuring unemployment
There are 2 unemployment indicators in Jersey:
Registered unemployment
The number of people registered as Actively Seeking Work (ASW) with Employment, Social Security and Housing (ESSH).
Unemployment rate
The number of registered unemployed and people not registered but still seeking work.
Registered unemployment
ESSH compiles information on people registered as ASW in Jersey.
Numbers registered as Actively Seeking Work (ASW)
Latest report
Statistics Jersey independently analysed anonymised data from ESSH and published quarterly reports of the monthly figures. This report has been discontinued, with the last report being for Quarter 2 2024.
Chief Statistician - Statistics Jersey discontinuance of statistical reports
On 30 June 2024:
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on a seasonally adjusted basis, the total number of people registered as actively seeking work (ASW) was 30 higher than at the end of the previous quarter and 70 higher compared with a year earlier
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the non-seasonally adjusted ASW total was 670; this total is 30 lower than the end of the previous quarter and 60 higher compared with a year earlier
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a greater number of females (350 individuals) than males (320 individuals) were registered as ASW
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the total number of long-term ASW (registered for more than twelve months) was 170; this total is 10 lower than the previous quarter and essentially unchanged when compared with a year earlier
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of the 670 people registered as ASW, 210 individuals were engaged in some form of paid employment and classified as underemployed; this includes 70 individuals who were classified as long-term ASW
Registered Actively Seeking Work, Quarter 2 2024
Statistics Jersey past reports
Unemployment rate
The internationally comparable rate is defined by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The ILO unemployment rate measures the proportion of unemployed people in the entire work force. It includes people registered as unemployed and those not registered but still seeking work.
The ILO unemployment rate is measured by the Jersey census and is updated between census years through household surveys.
2021 census results
In March 2021 the ILO unemployment rate was 3.5%, as measured by the 2021 Jersey census. This figure corresponded to 2,058 people being unemployed at that time.
At the time of the 2021 census there were 1,320 people registered with the Social Security Department as ASW. Of those individuals, 910 were unemployed and 400 were engaged in some form of paid employment. This indicates that slightly over half (55%) of unemployed people recorded by the census were not registered as ASW.
2014 and 2015 Household Spending and Income Survey results
The ILO unemployment rate between April 2014 and May 2015 was estimated to be 4%. This rate corresponds to around 2,500 people being unemployed and looking for work.
2011 census results
In March 2011 the ILO unemployment rate was 4.7%, as measured by the
2011 Jersey census. This figure corresponded to 2,569 people being unemployed at that time.
At the time of the 2011 census there were 1,310 people who were unemployed and registered with the Social Security Department as ASW. This indicates that around half (48%) of unemployed people recorded by the census were not registered as ASW.
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