Abstract
This brief assesses the economic and employment impacts of Hurricane Melissa (October 2025) in Jamaica using innovative remote sensing modeling. The analysis estimates a 2.9% decline in national GDP and 30,400 job losses, with localized declines of up to 9.7% in Savanna-la-Mar, 7.3% in Montego Bay, and 6.6% in Saint Elizabeth. By combining daily nighttime light data, building damage assessments, and gridded population data, the study provides high-resolution insights into spatial disparities in recovery and highlights the need for employment-centered policies, sector-specific support, and climate-resilient skills development to mitigate long-term labor market disruptions.