48,500 jobless in Q1 2011 in Mauritius

Unemployment in Mauritius jumped to 8.3% during the first quarter of 2011 from 7.2% in the fourth quarter of 2010, but was down marginally on a year earlier, official data showed yesterday. “Employment of Mauritians is estimated at 535,600 at the first quarter of 2011 compared to 537,700 at the fourth quarter of 2010 and 524,400 at the first quarter of 2010,” the Central Statistics Office said. The CSO said the unemployment rate was 8.4% in the first quarter of 2010. Government statistics showed a total of 48,500 unemployed. Official forecasts project an unemployment rate of 7.8% in 2011, the same as last year.