Puerto Rico adds 21K jobs, jobless rate steady at 5.5%
Puerto Rico’s economy showed continued growth in July as employment rose and the unemployment rate held steady at 5.5%, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data cited by the island’s Department of Economic Development and Commerce.
The Worker Group Survey reported the jobless rate was slightly lower than the 5.6% recorded in July 2024. The number of employed people reached 1,169,000, up 21,000 from a year earlier.
The labor force expanded by 22,000 compared with July 2024, and the participation rate rose to 44.4%, half a percentage point higher than a year ago.
The Establishment Survey showed that seasonally adjusted nonfarm wage employment reached 966,000, an increase of 2,600 from June and 16,500 above July 2024.
“These results confirm the resilience and dynamism of our economy, with sustained growth in key areas such as services, construction and tourism, and a workforce that continues to expand,” said Sebastián Negrón-Reichard, the agency’s secretary.
In the San Juan metropolitan area, salaried jobs totaled 697,100, an increase of 13,000 year over year, while Ponce, Mayagüez and Aguadilla also registered gains.
Negrón-Reichard said the department would continue working with the private sector, municipalities and other agencies to attract investment, support small and midsize businesses and strengthen Puerto Rico’s competitiveness.
