Montserrat Survey of Living Conditions (MSLC) Executive Summary

Montserrat Survey of Living ConditionsExecutive SummaryTotal social spending (education, health and social welfare) rose from EC$15.6 million in 2002 to EC$23.4million in 2007; around 1/3rd of this expenditure was on education and 2/3rds on health and socialwelfare. This expenditure has maintained a fairly constant share of total government recurrent expenditureof around 25%.2.4 EmploymentBetween 2001 and 2006, reconstruction activities led to employment increasing by almost 50% andunemployment dropping slightly to 12%. Women made up 44% of the active population. The pattern ofemployment also changed substantially between 1991 and 2001 with the government becoming by somemargin the most important sector accounting for 45% of total employment – a pattern that had changedlittle by 2008/09 when the self employed accounted for 19% of those working and 35% were privatesector employees. The principal trend in terms of occupational groupings, evident since 1991, is increasingproportions in both the most skilled (white collar) and least skilled (elementary) occupations; in contrast,the proportions of sales and skilled manual workers both decreased (Table ES2).Table ES2. Employment CharacteristicsType of Employment 1991 2001 2008/09Change 1991-2008/09Government/ Statutory Bodies 27% 45% 46% +19%Private employee 55% 39% 35% -20%Self employed 18% 16% 19% +1%Occupational GroupingManagerial, Professional, Technical 24% 30% 34% +10%Clerical and Sales 24% 27% 21% -3%Crafts and Skilled Manual 34% 25% 18% -16%Unskilled Elementary 18% 18% 26% +8%Total 100% 100% 100%Sources: 1991 and 2001 Censuses, Listing Survey 2006, SLC 2008/09Employment in construction and government (including health and education) dominate the economywith around 60% of all employment. There is negligible employment in agriculture or manufacturing.In 2001, non-nationals accounted for 22% of employment on the island. While they were found in alloccupations and industrial sectors, the proportions vary substantially: non-nationals are ‘over-represented’ 6in the unskilled, craft and professional groups, i.e. at both at both ends of the skills continuum. In termsof industrial sectors, they provide at least 30% of employment in domestic service, hotels, constructionand manufacturing; conversely, they are under-represented in government which is the most importantemployment sector of all.6 I.e. NNAT share of employment in an occupational group/ industrial sector is greater than their share of totalemployment.Montserrat Country Poverty Assessment, Final ReportHalcrow Group Limited, July 2012.ES6