Labour Minister: “We’re Working on the Compensation Matching What Skill Workers Want”

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI) releases its first quarter labour force survey, providing updated employment, unemployment, labour force participation, and other key labour market indicators across The Bahamas.

It covers the period from January to March this year.

So, why is it important?

The survey provides policymakers, researchers, service providers, and the taxpayers with valuable data to better understand the characteristics of the labour market throughout The Bahamas.

The numbers reveal that underemployment is on the rise.

There are 29,085 underemployed persons, an increase of 2,890, which is an 11% increase compared with the fourth quarter of 2025.

Underemployed persons: These are workers whose work does not meet their desired level of compensation, working hours, or use of skills and experience.

We asked Labor Minister Pia Glover-Rolle about the numbers.

Pia Glover-Rolle – Minister, Labor and Public Service

“We are working even across borders to see how we can ensure that citizens have the highest level of employment opportunities. We don’t only want to engage payment citizens and entry level work. We want to see Bahamians engage at the highest level, and where there are Bahamains be skilled at the highest levels…we’re attracting them to come back home…”

Meanwhile, as underemployment continues to be an issue, unemployment is trending downward.

The BNSI is reporting the number of unemployed persons was 20,240, a decrease of 5.7% compared with the fourth quarter of 2025.

The overall unemployment rate, declines to 8.1% from 8.7% in the previous quarter.

Pia Glover-Rolle – Minister, Labor and Public Service

“That is a great thing because we are engaging so many opportunities to ensure that our citizens get jobs, [and] get employment that also leads to long-term careers.”