Unemployment Stats in GB Remain a Mystery

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GRAND BAHAMA, BAHAMAS – Unemployment statistics for Grand Bahama seem hard to find after hurricane Dorian in 2019 threw off the statistic collection schedule.

Yet, officials are hoping to change that by next spring.

When we asked the Officer in Charge of the Northern Region of the Department of Labour, Bonnie Johnson, Our News learned that post-Dorian, it’s difficult to find information On Grand Bahamian unemployment statistics.

When data was collected in the November 2019 Labour Force Survey, it only included Nassau because of the devastation of the storm.

We tried calling the Department of Statistics and asked where we could find an unemployment rate for Grand Bahama. The call was sent to multiple desks, and we waited on hold for over half an hour but still found no answer.

Statistics were supposed to be compiled in a 2020 census, it was postponed to 2021 and didn’t end up happening until the 2022 census took place digitally between April and June of this year.

Minister for Grand Bahama, Ginger Moxey told reporters while they’re still awaiting statistics, they should arrive by February.

Moxey has ambitious hopes for an improved employment rate next year.