Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Wednesday: Record low unemployment; England v Australia; Today's Weather; Clovis Toon; Breaking News and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Wednesday, August 16, 2023 Unemployment at new record low The country’s unemployment rate in April 2023 was at a record 4.5 per cent, 1.5 percentage points lower than in April 2022. The information was released on Tuesday by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). It shows that the number of persons employed in April 2023 increased by 43,300 to 1,312,600. Over two-thirds (68.6 per cent) of the increase (29,700) were employed females. STATIN said a larger number of females were employed, mainly in the occupation group ‘Service Workers and Shop and Market Sales Workers’ and within the industry group ‘Real Estate and Other Business Services’. Recruitment challenges slow census The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) says one of the main reasons for the [delay in completing the population and housing census]( was the recruitment and the high levels of attrition of census workers. “As unemployment rates decline, persons are less inclined to take up more strenuous and short-term jobs like data collection. In addition to our initial recruitment drive, secondary recruitment efforts were targeted in areas without census workers,” STATIN said in an update on Tuesday. The Institute said a significant number of persons indicated that they were either no longer interested, found other means of employment, deemed that the work would be too hard, and some persons failed the minimum training requirements. July Consumer Price Index up 1.1 per cent The All-Jamaica Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 1.1 per cent for July 2023 influenced mainly by a 2.3 per cent rise in the index for the division ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’. This is according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), which says the increase in the division’s index was due largely to a 9.9per cent increase in the index for the class ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’. STATIN said drought conditions continued to adversely affect the supply of agricultural produce resulting in higher prices for items such as cabbage, Irish potato, tomato, sweet pepper and yam. The inflation rate was also impacted by a 0.5 per cent increase in the index for the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division. This was mainly due to higher electricity, water and sewage rates. Advertisement England, Australia in blockbuster Women’s World Cup clash Australia and England [clash in the Women's World Cup semi-finals]( on Wednesday in Sydney in the latest installment of a long-standing sporting rivalry between the countries. Co-hosts Australia have the nation behind them for the first World Cup semi-final in their history and Stadium Australia will be heaving with an anticipated crowd of about 80,000. Mobile morgue arrives to assist in identification of the dead in Maui wildfires A mobile morgue unit arrived Tuesday to help Hawaii officials working painstakingly to identify the 99 people confirmed killed in wildfires that ravaged Maui, and officials expected to release the first list of names even as teams intensified the [search for more dead in neighborhoods reduced to ash](. The US Department of Health and Human Services deployed a team of coroners, pathologists and technicians along with exam tables, X-ray units and other equipment to identify victims and process remains, said Jonathan Greene, the agency’s deputy assistant secretary for response. TODAY'S WEATHER FORECAST Fair and hazy conditions are expected to dominate today, according to the Meteorological Service of Jamaica. In the morning, it is expected to be fair and hazy. In the afternoon, isolated showers and possible thunderstorms are anticipated across western parishes, otherwise it is expected to be fair and hazy. ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING ‘Nuh money nah mek’ - Taxi drivers anticipating back-to-school While children are excited about the summer season when they can finally get a break from the routine of school, taxi operators say they are feeling the effects of [the absence of students who ply their routes](. Magoo, 'Up Jumps da Boogie' rapper and Timbaland collaborator, dies at 50 The rapper Magoo, known for his work in the hip-hop duo Timbaland & Magoo and hit song "Up Jumps da Boogie" featuring Aaliyah and Missy Elliott, [has died](. Magoo, a pioneer of the '90 and early 2000s Virginia rap scene, was 50. Jamaica's Trivante Stewart joins Italian club Salernitana Trivante Stewart [has joined Italian football club Salernitana]( the club announced on Instagram Tuesday. CLOVIS TOON TODAY IN HISTORY Elvis Presley dead at 42 On this day in 1977, Elvis Presley died at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee, at age 42. For more stories, visit our website at www.jamaicaobserver.com or [sign up for our e-paper](. [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Website]( Copyright © 2023 Jamaica Observer, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 40 - 42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue Kingston 5 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.