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Guam – Jobs Up

27 July 2015

According to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, compared to last year, there are more jobs both in the government and private sector and the unemployment rate in Guam has dipped slightly.

The March 2015 preliminary statistics show an increase in total number of jobs by 1,320, or 2.1% from last year. According to the report, most employment gains were in tourism and medical related industries. There is also an increase in average hourly earnings: 3.1% for GovGuam jobs and 1.1% in the private sector.

The report indicates that the total number of persons unemployed in December 2014 was 5,760. The unemployment rate for December 2014 was 7.7%, a decline of 0.7% compared to last year's 8.4%.

The news comes after the recent announcement that a federal grant of nearly USD 2.8 million has been awarded to the Guam Department of Labor to create more than 200 temporary jobs on island.

The U.S. Department of Labor awarded the National Emergency Grant to Guam in the wake of Typhoon Dolphin, so those seeking employment can help with clean up and recovery effort.

“The grant funds will be used primarily, to provide temporary employment on projects to assist with the clean up, demolition, repair, renovation, and reconstruction of destroyed public structures, facilities, land, and vegetation within the affected communities,” the governor’s office said.