Tinian had highest unemployment in ’05

A 2005 study shows Tinian had the highest unemployment rate among the three main islands in the Commonwealth.

Seventeen percent, or about 330, of Tinian’s labor force did not have jobs in 2005.

This is much higher than the unemployment rates on Saipan and Rota, which were 8 percent (or about 2,700) and 10 percent (or about 100) respectively.

Of the unemployed on Tinian in 2005, 80 percent were U.S. citizens while 20 percent were non-U.S. citizens. Persons born in the Northern Marianas made up 71 percent, while foreign contract workers were about 18 percent of Tinian’s total unemployed population.

Chamorros were 75 percent of Tinian’s unemployed population in 2005; Asians were 22 percent; and multiple ethnics were 4 percent.

Non-U.S. citizens comprised a larger percentage—34 percent—of Saipan’s unemployed than Tinian’s in 2005. U.S. citizens made up 66 percent of the jobless. Non-U.S. citizens outnumbered the U.S. citizens on Saipan in 2005.

Persons born in the CNMI made up 53 percent of Saipan’s total unemployed. Foreign contract workers were about 18 percent.

On Saipan, Chamorros were 30 percent of the total unemployed population in 2005. Asians were 25 percent, Micronesians were 18 percent, and Carolinians were 17 percent. Multiple ethnics made up about 8 percent of Saipan’s unemployed in 2005.

On Rota, nine in 10 jobless persons were U.S. citizens in 2005. Persons born in the CNMI made up 71 percent, while migrant non-U.S. citizens were about 6 percent of Rota’s total unemployed population.

Chamorros were about 66 percent of Rota’s unemployed population in 2005; Filipinos were about 12 percent; and multiple ethnics were also about 12 percent in 2005.

At the time of the survey, the largest industry on Tinian by number of workers was the hotel industry with about 38 percent of the total employed population. Seventeen percent of those employed were in government.

Saipan had 33 percent of its employed population working in garment factories, 13 percent in hotels, and over 8 percent in government.

Meanwhile, the government provided jobs to 36 percent of the employed population on Rota. The second largest industry was arts, entertainment and recreation with 12 percent, followed by education services (11 percent), and accommodations (10 percent).

Conducted in 2005, the Household, Income and Employment Survey lists population by election districts, median age, age distribution, sex ratio, ethnicity, citizenship, migrant population, reason for migrating to the CNMI, length of stay and living arrangements. Labor and income statistics cover employment by industry, employment and unemployment, employment by ethnicity and citizenship and by class of workers. Household and family income figures are provided, as are per capita income.