Employment numbers in the March 2022 quarter went down by 0.5 percent making it the tenth consecutive quarter of negative growth since December 2019.
This ongoing effect reflects the negative impact experienced by the country due to global effects and national restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on the country.
This has significantly impacted industries such as Restaurants, Communications, Business Services, Construction and Transport.
The latest data is outlined in the Samoa Bureau of Statistics March 2022 quarter on employment statistics.
“Wages and Salaries for the March 2022 quarter amounted to $142.4 million, increasing by 0. 7% over its corresponding period of202l.
This was influenced mainly by the increase in wages and salaries in some industries such as Restaurants, Education, Electricity and other manufacturing.
The report says the employment Index continues to show a downward trend from March 2019 to March 2022 and it has recorded a decline of 0.5% in the period under review compared to the same quarter of 2021. ”
Furthermore, the overall impact shown in the chart is strongly influenced by the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the country both on an international and national capacity.
“With the country recording its first community case in the period under review, normal business operations continues to yield job losses and layouts in some of the hardest- hit economic sectors of the country“s economy. Restaurants 11.6 percent, Communication 11. percent, Business Services 6.8 percent and Construction 3. percent are some of industries that recorded significant declines in employment.”
