Puerto Rico's civilian labor force in July 2002 numbered 1,273,000. The unemployment rate averaged 13% in 2002, although it had decreased to 11.9% in the first quarter of 2003.
In March 1997, agriculture, forestry, and fishing accounted for about 3.1% of employment; mining, 0.1%; construction, 5.5%; manufacturing, 15.3%; wholesale and retail trade, 19.5%; finance, insurance, and real estate, 3.0%; transportation, communication, and public utilities, 5.5%; services, 25.5%; and government, 22.5%. In fiscal year 2002, approximately 276,600 people were employed in government, 215,000 in services, 212,800 in trade, 141,2000 in manufacturing, 70,400 in construction, and 46,900 in finance, insurance, and real estate.
Approximately 7% of the labor force belonged to trade unions in 1997. There are four main Puerto Rican unions represented on the island, the largest of which is the General Confederation of Puerto Rican Workers. Wages tend to adhere closely to the US statutory minimum, which applies to Puerto Rico.