Chuuk State Census Report - pacificweb.org

Chapter 9. Economic Activity2000 FSM Census of Chuuk Statefollowed by the U.S. in both 1994 and 2000, however, the number of Asians in the Chuuk labor force hadsubstantially decreased from 337 in 1994 to 28 persons in 2000.The number of unemployed persons had almost tripled between the two census periods in Chuuk State especially forthe Chuuk-born citizens. More than 99 percent of unemployed persons were Chuukese citizens and less than 1percent were non-Chuuk citizens in 1994 and 2000. As shown in the table, that as the number of unemployedperson increased, the number of persons who are not in the labor force decreased between 1994 and 2000, from17,666 down to 13,308 for Chuukese-born persons and from 262 to 87 for non-Chuukese persons, indicating that theincrease in the unemployment rate can also show that more people are now available for work and are activelylooking for a job.Table 9.10: Labor Force Status for Age 15 Years and Over by Citizenship, Chuuk State: 1994 and 2000Persons In labor force (LF) Not in LF15 years Total in Percent in Employed Unemployed Percent ofCitizenship and over Percent labor force labor force Number % of LF Number % of LF Number labor force1994Total 29,068 100.0 11,140 100.0 8,922 100.0 2,218 100.0 17,928 100.0Chuuk 28,410 97.7 10,744 96.4 8,532 95.6 2,212 99.7 17,666 98.5Males 14,118 48.6 7,195 64.6 6,209 69.6 986 44.5 6,923 38.6Females 14,292 49.2 3,549 31.9 2,323 26.0 1,226 55.3 10,743 59.9Non - Chuuk 658 2.3 396 3.6 390 4.4 6 0.3 262 1.5Males 569 2.0 362 3.2 359 4.0 3 0.1 207 1.2USA 30 0.1 14 0.1 14 0.2 - - 16 0.1Asia 446 1.5 325 2.9 323 3.6 2 0.1 121 0.7Elsewhere 93 0.3 23 0.2 22 0.2 1 - 70 0.4Females 89 0.3 34 0.3 31 0.3 3 0.1 55 0.3USA 23 0.1 11 0.1 11 0.1 - - 12 0.1Asia 25 0.1 12 0.1 12 0.1 - - 13 0.1Elsewhere 41 0.1 11 0.1 8 0.1 3 0.1 30 0.22000Total 31,587 100.0 18,192 100.0 11,979 100.0 6,213 100.0 13,395 100.0Chuuk 31,351 99.3 18,043 99.2 11,843 98.9 6,200 99.8 13,308 99.4Males 15,626 49.5 10,474 57.6 7,209 60.2 3,265 52.6 5,152 38.5Females 15,725 49.8 7,569 41.6 4,634 38.7 2,935 47.2 8,156 60.9Non - Chuuk 236 0.7 149 0.8 136 1.1 13 0.2 87 0.6Males 156 0.5 94 0.5 91 0.8 3 - 62 0.5USA 32 0.1 28 0.2 27 0.2 1 - 4 -Asia 33 0.1 28 0.2 27 0.2 1 - 5 -Elsewhere 21 0.1 6 - 5 - 1 - 15 0.1Females 80 0.3 55 0.3 45 0.4 10 0.2 25 0.2USA 21 0.1 15 0.1 13 0.1 2 - 6 -Asia 11 - 11 0.1 9 0.1 2 - - -Elsewhere 18 0.1 10 0.1 9 0.1 1 - 8 0.1Source: 1994 FSM Census, Table P132 & unpublished data; 2000 FSM Census, Table P9-5 & unpublished data.Labor Force Status by English Language AbilityTable 9.11 shows labor force status for age 15 years and over by language ability. English is the languagecommonly used in the public as well as much of the private sector, making it an important skill for employment. In1994, persons with English language skills accounted for 46 percent of the labor force and in 2000 for about 61percent. In 1994, almost 30 percent of those people with no English language skills were in the labor force, and by2000, there was about 11 percent, indicating that the labor force in Chuuk State is becoming more fluent in English.The unemployment rate for those with no English skills was nearly 25 percent, significantly higher than the stateaverage of 3 percent.82 Chuuk Branch Statistics Office, Division of Statistics, FSM Department of Economic Affairs