This section presents statistics on labor force, wages, income, and poverty.

Total employment in 2004 was estimated at 17,502, an increase of 0.5 percent from the previous year (2003).  The estimate includes 4,473 government employees; 1,429 government authorities employees; 4,600 cannery employees, and 7,000 private sector employees. 

General Government employment increased slightly from 4,312 in 2003 to 4,473 in 2004.    Contract employees increased from 256 in 2003 to 355 in 2004.  Local hire employees (career service) increased slightly from 3,686 in 2003 to 3,763 in 2004, a 2% increase from the previous year.   

The minimum wage for various industries in American Samoa has stayed stagnant since 2002.  Fish canning and processing has remained at $3.26.  All industries have remained the same, with Shipping and Transportation, Classification A reporting the highest minimum wage rate at $4.09. 

Out of 8,706 households recorded in 1995 household survey, 23% of those homes reported an annual income of $15,000 to $24,999.  The Western District, which constitutes more than half the household population, recorded a mean household income of $26,319, which is $623 more than that earned in the Eastern District.  Twenty-four percent of American Samoa households were below the national poverty level of $10,000 annual income.  

Based on 2000 Census information, forty-five percent (45%) of our population is below 18 years, with 67% of children living in low-income families.  One (1) out of every ten (10) families has a female householder with children; and 3,889 grandparents were recorded to have lived with their grandchildren, with 71 percent of grandparents being responsible for childcare.   

List of Tables 

10.1	Current Employment Estimates:  2000 to 2004(7kb)
10.2	Labor Force:  1990 and 2000(7kb)
10.3	American Samoa Government Employment by Status:  1976 to 2004 (7kb)
10.4	Employment Status by District and County, American Samoa:  2000 (13kb)
10.5	Employment Status by Sex, Age, and District: 2000 (7kb)
10.6	Employment by Industry and District:  2000 (9kb)
10.7	Work Status in 1999 by Sex:  2000 (7kb)
10.8	Occupation for District and County, American Samoa:  2000 (11kb)
10.9	Industry for District and County, American Samoa:  2000 (13kb)
10.10	Class of Worker for District and County, American Samoa:  2000 (10kb)
10.11	Minimum Hourly Wage Rates Under the Fair Labor Standards Act for American Samoa:  2000 to 2004 (8kb)
10.12	Household Income in 1999 for District and County, American Samoa:  2000 (12kb)
10.13	Per Capita Income in Year Before Census:  1969 to 1989 (7kb)
10.14	Place of Work for District and County, American Samoa:  2000 (10kb)
10.15	Place of Work for Villages, American Samoa:  2000 (12kb)
10.16	Poverty Status and Workers in Family in 1999 by Place of Birth and District of Reference Person, American Samoa:  2000 (18kb)
10.17	Family Poverty Status in 1999 for District and County, American Samoa:  2000 (10kb)
10.18	Family Poverty Status in 1999 for Families with Female Householder for District and County, American Samoa:  2000 (10kb)
10.19	Individual Poverty Status for District and County, American Samoa:  2000 (12kb)
10.20	Family Poverty Status in 1999 for Village, American Samoa:  2000 (16kb)