Report: slightly less jobs on Guam

by Lannie Walker

Guam - The Guam Department of Labor released its latest employment report 2011 preliminary reports show the number of jobs on Guam decreased slightly over the last year down by 700 jobs over the quarter or 1.1%. "It means we are kind of in a little in between on some construction projects, I expect in the quarters ahead that once the buildup projects get going we'll see increased construction resume," said chief economist Gary Hiles.

The report shows nearly all the reductions occurred in the private sector-construction jobs were down the most with a decline of 300 jobs in the latest quarter, retail trade saw the second highest decline with a loss of 190 jobs. Federal jobs remained unchanged this quarter but are up by 120 jobs from the prior year.

The amount of Government of Guam jobs also remained the same for the latest quarter but decreased by 250 jobs over the year in the Executive Branch.