Puerto Rico's Unemployment Rate Jumps

Puerto Rico’s already high unemployment rate took a substantial jump up from June to October.

Whereas the June rate was 13.2% the October rate was 14.7%, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

By comparison, the island’s unemployment rate had been 14.2% in October 2012 and 15.7% in October 2011.

In September of this year the rate was 14.5%.

The release of the main measure of Puerto Rico’s economic activity, the economic activity index, was delayed by the shutdown of the federal government in October. The bureau’s total payroll employment statistic is one of four measures used to create the index and the bureau did not release this statistic for September when it normally would.

The bureau released its statistics for October on Nov. 22.

On Tuesday the Government Development Bank said it will release the economic activity index values for September and October on Thursday.

Total nonfarm employment declined by 5% to October from October 2012.

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Puerto Rico
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