Non–farm payroll in Puerto Rico for June 2022 reached 912,900. This reflects an increase of 4.77% or 41,600 when compared to numbers reported in June 2021. However, compared to the previous month of May 2022, we see a decrease of 3,700 or 0.33%.
| Employment (thousands) | March 2020 | June 2021 | June 2022 | Percentage Change |
| Non-Farm Payroll | 887.5 | 871.3 | 912.9 | 4.8% |
| Construction | 27.7 | 28.5 | 31.0 | 8.8% |
| Manufacturing | 76 | 77.0 | 83.4 | 8.3% |
| Retail Sales | 124.9 | 127.9 | 132.4 | 3.5% |
| Professional and Business Services | 124.4 | 128.8 | 141.2 | 9.6% |
| Finance | 45.1 | 44.1 | 45.8 | 3.9% |
| Education | 33.2 | 29.4 | 32.0 | 8.8% |
| Health Services | 85.9 | 84.7 | 86.5 | 2.1% |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 81.4 | 75.1 | 86.7 | 15.5% |
| Government | 203.5 | 193.9 | 188.1 | -29.9% |
When comparing June 2022’s numbers with those of June 2021’s, the categories that forwent the most significant increases in employment were Professional and Commercial Services (9.6%), Leisure and Hospitality (15.4%), and Manufacturing (8.3%). The only major category with a year-over-year decrease in employment is Government (-29.9%).
The major employment categories that had the most significant month-over-month increases were Trade, Transportation & Utilities (0.6%), Manufacturing (0.7%), and Educational and Health Services (0.4%). Employment in the Government was the only sector with a significant decrease of – 3.34% compared to May 2022.
Overall, employment rates have regained strength over the last couple of months, as shown in the data published by Puerto Rico’s Labor Department; the numbers have already surpassed pre-pandemic levels and even pre-Hurricane Maria levels and this is greatly due to expansions in the Professional and Business Services, Leisure and Hospitality, and Trade, Transportation & Utilities sectors. However, it is worth noting that June’s decrease is the first contraction seen in employment rates since December 2021. This could be a sign that the labor force is once again stabilizing and that the continuous growth in employment rates since COVID-19 struck, is coming to an end.
