Reunion Island: The unemployment rate remains very low level

This April, the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies of Reunion Island (INSEE Réunion) released a report providing an initial assessment of the job market in Reunion for 2022. This preliminary review was published before the full economic evaluation, scheduled for early July.

INSEE’s 2022 Employment Survey in Reunion results highlight key indicators related to employment and unemployment, as defined by the International Labor Office (ILO), for 2022.

According to these data, nearly half, or 49%, of people aged 15 to 64 in Reunion were employed in 2022. This figure represents a two-point increase compared to the period before the health crisis. Moreover, the surge in job opportunities proved to be exceedingly advantageous for women, seniors, and young individuals. These groups received substantial support from the national recovery program, “one young person, one job”, that was initiated amidst the health crisis. It’s also worth noting there was a significant increase in apprenticeship contracts. In addition, it’s important to emphasize that the unemployment rate has remained historically low in Reunion over the past three years, with an annual average of 18% in 2022. However, in addition to the 60,000 unemployed people, there are also 58,000 inactive people looking for work.

The Service of Studies, Statistics, and Evaluation (SESE), part of the Department of Economy, Employment, Work, and Solidarity (DEETS), also provided an overview of the evolution of the job market in Reunion. According to figures for the first quarter of 2023, the average number of job seekers required to look for work and who are without activity (category A) stood at 118,590. This figure represents a decrease of 0.4% compared to the previous quarter, or a decrease of 440 people, and a decrease of 4.2% over one year. Similarly, the average number of job seekers required to look for work, whether they have had any activity (categories A, B, C), was 155 360 in the first quarter of 2023, pointing to a slight decrease of 0.1% compared to the previous quarter, or a decrease of 190 people, and a decrease of 1.3% over a year.

The data indicates a promising development in the job market in Reunion in 2022, with a rise in employment and an unemployment rate held at an exceptionally low level. However, the island is not resting on its laurels and intends to take on the challenges that will allow it to promote employment and economic activity in the region.

Ianja Ny