Labour Market Forum 2010 - Planning Institute of Jamaica

c) Time related (69,500 and 69,300 in ’08 and ’09,
respectively (ESSJ ‘09))
Productivity of the Jamaican Economy
→ “The productivity…, on average, by 1.3 per cent per
annum between 1972 and 2007. This means the average
worker in Jamaica has been producing less, each year,
over the period.” JPC Summary Report, 1972-2007
→ By my calculation, using the 1990-2000 data set, we will be
producing at US$10,061 per worker in 2030, the year of
expected developed status; merely $1,000 higher than
the 2003 figure of US$9,080 per worker.
Jamaica’s Labour Productivity has not always been low or
negative
The country experienced:
→ Annual average increases of 5.29% between 1954-1966
→ Annual average increases of 5.19% per annum between
1960-1969
The question then is what happened to cause the Slide?
74