Highlights
First quarter 2019
1. Employment of Mauritians is estimated at 546,000 at the first quarter of 2019 compared to 540,000 at the first quarter of 2018 and 553,200 at the fourth quarter of 2018.
2. The unemployment rate for the first quarter of 2019 is estimated at 6.9%, lower than the rate of 7.1% at the first quarter 2018 but higher than the rate of 6.4% at the fourth quarter of 2018.
3. The main characteristics of the unemployed at the first quarter of 2019 were:
(i) The 40,400 unemployed comprised 17,400 males (43%) and 23,000 females (57%).
(ii) 18,200 or about 45% of the unemployed were aged below 25 years.
(iii) Around 26,800 (66%) of the unemployed were single. Among males, the majority (83%) was single compared to 54% among the females.
(iv) Some 4,300 or 11% had not reached the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) level or equivalent and a further 15,500 (38%) did not have the Cambridge School Certificate (SC) or equivalent.
(v) 33,500 (83%) had been looking for work up to one year.
(vi) 13,400 (33%) were looking for a job for the first time.
(vii) 3,700 or 9% of the unemployed were heads of households.
(viii) 5,900 or 15% lived in households with no employed persons.
Forecast - Year 2019
4. Unemployment rate for 2019 is forecasted at 6.8% compared to 6.9% in 2018.
