Panama job market set to swell

A TOTAL of  31,476 new jobs, will be created in 2016, with the implementation of major public and private projects according to  projections of  Panama’s Public Employment Commission.

This committee is composed of national associations, the Ministry of Labor and the International Labour Organization (ILO)

The sectors that continue to drive the country’s economy are construction, which will have an estimated 8,410 new jobs this year, followed by the trade sector (8,221 vacancies), logistics (5,193); agricultural (4,130, tourism (3,401) and industrial (2,121).

These six sectors account for 60 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country and 66% of overall employment.

However, the intention is to not only increase the number of jobs, but the quality of the  positions, said Ministry Secretary General Samuel Rivera.

Officials expect the unemployment rate to remain at between 3 and 5 percent, the lowest level in the region.