Labor numbers for June show positive signs of job growth

According to data from the Department of Labor and Human Resources’ Worker Group Survey, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for June is estimated to be 5.5%. The figure remains stable compared to the previous month and reflects a decrease of 0.2 percentage points from June 2024.

By The Star Staff

The Department of Labor and Human Resources (DTRH) has released the results of the labor surveys for June, which indicate positive signs of stability and growth in the labor market on the island.

According to data from the Worker Group Survey, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is estimated to be 5.5%. The figure remains stable compared to the previous month and reflects a decrease of 0.2 percentage points from June 2024, when it was recorded at 5.7%.

Additionally, the labor force participation rate increased to 45.1%, which is a rise of 0.1 percentage points compared to May 2025 and an increase of one percentage point from the same month last year, when it was at 44.1%. The number of employed individuals reached 1,170,000 in June, representing an increase of 2,000 compared to May and 27,000 more than in June 2024.

“The stability we have achieved in the unemployment rate, along with the rise in the number of employed individuals and labor force participation, confirms that Puerto Rico is moving in the right direction,” Labor Secretary María del Pilar Vélez Casanova said. “These results are not coincidental; they reflect concrete initiatives and the commitment of our governor, Jenniffer González Colón, to promote quality jobs and working conditions that contribute to the economic stability of our people.”

“At the Department of Labor, we remain dedicated to supporting this development through actions that directly impact our workers, such as strategic alliances with employers, training programs, and incentives for job creation and retention, among others,” the official added. “Our goal remains clear: to close gaps, improve the quality of employment, and integrate more people into a robust and resilient workforce.”

The total working population was estimated at 1,238,000 in June, an increase of 2,000 compared to May and 26,000 compared to June 2024. The estimated number of unemployed individuals stood at 68,000, which marks a year-over-year decrease of 1,000.

In contrast, the results of the Nonfarm Wage Employment Survey indicated that seasonally adjusted wage employment was at 964,000 in June, reflecting a slight decrease of 800 jobs compared to the previous month. However, compared to June 2024, wage employment showed a solid increase of 9,800 positions.

The sectors that experienced growth included government (800 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (400 jobs), and mining, logging, and construction (100 jobs). Conversely, declines were observed in professional and business services (1,500 jobs), manufacturing (200 jobs), information (100 jobs), education and health services (100 jobs), recreation and lodging (100 jobs), and other services (100 jobs). The finance sector remained unchanged.

Year-over-year, significant increases in wage employment were noted in recreation and lodging (3,400 jobs), mining, logging, and construction (2,100 jobs), education and health services (2,100 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (2,100 jobs), government (1,100 jobs), finance (1,000 jobs), and other services (200 jobs). In contrast, the manufacturing and professional and business services sectors saw declines of 1,500 and 700 jobs, respectively.