Barbados: the labour market
Labour force is 151,620 (2025), 176th of 187 in the world and 28th of 31 in Latin America & Caribbean. Participation rate is 64.7% (2025), 66th of 187 in the world and 12th of 31 in Latin America & Caribbean. Women's participation is 61.0% (2025), 45th of 187 in the world and 6th of 31 in Latin America & Caribbean.
Labour: Barbados in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Latin America & Caribbean; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour forceLabour force, total | 151,6202025 | 176/187 | 28/31 | 141,943 | 151,410 | 145,656 | +2.8%since 2015 | 325m | 734m | 3.7bn | |
| Participation rateLabour force participation, % of 15+ | 64.7%2025 | 66/187 | 12/31 | 69.3% | 68.9% | 63.1% | −0.7 ppsince 2015 | 62.7% | 61.0% | 61.0% | |
| Women's participationFemale labour force participation, % of women 15+ | 61.0%2025 | 45/187 | 6/31 | 63.6% | 64.4% | 59.7% | −0.7 ppsince 2015 | 51.4% | 54.3% | 48.9% | |
| Employment rateEmployment to population ratio, 15+ (ILO) | 60.5%2025 | 70/187 | 11/31 | 62.9% | 61.5% | 56.4% | +1.4 ppsince 2015 | 59.3% | 58.3% | 58.1% | |
| UnemploymentUnemployment, % of labour force (ILO) | 6.5%2025 | 69/187 | 15/31 | 9.3% | 10.7% | 10.6% | −3.3 ppsince 2015 | 5.5% | 4.4% | 4.8% | |
| Female unemploymentFemale unemployment, % of female labour force (ILO) | 7.0%2025 | 73/187 | 17/31 | 11.4% | 10.5% | 10.1% | −2.0 ppsince 2015 | 6.5% | 4.6% | 4.9% | |
| Youth unemploymentYouth unemployment, ages 15–24 (ILO) | 18.5%2025 | 60/187 | 14/31 | 20.8% | 25.4% | 30.0% | −10.4 ppsince 2015 | 12.2% | 11.5% | 13.4% | |
| Youth NEET rateYouth not in education, employment or training, % | 29.0%2016 | 36/170 | 4/28 | · | · | · | — | 18.1% | 10.6% | — | |
| Wage workersWage and salaried workers, % of total employment | 80.5%2025 | 60/187 | 4/31 | 87.2% | 83.5% | 79.8% | −2.6 ppsince 2015 | 64.4% | 88.9% | 53.6% | |
| Vulnerable employmentVulnerable employment, % of total employment (ILO) | 18.8%2025 | 121/187 | 27/31 | 12.5% | 15.5% | 19.7% | +2.5 ppsince 2015 | 31.5% | 8.0% | 42.4% | |
| Jobs in agricultureEmployment in agriculture, % of total employment | 1.2%2025 | 172/187 | 29/31 | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.0% | −1.6 ppsince 2015 | 12.7% | 2.9% | 25.8% | |
| Jobs in industryEmployment in industry, % of total employment | 16.2%2025 | 132/187 | 27/31 | 24.5% | 20.4% | 16.4% | −3.2 ppsince 2015 | 20.5% | 22.2% | 23.7% | |
| Jobs in servicesEmployment in services, % of total employment | 82.6%2025 | 13/187 | 3/31 | 72.2% | 76.3% | 80.6% | +4.8 ppsince 2015 | 66.8% | 74.9% | 50.6% |
Better than ten years ago
- Employment rate+1.4 pp60.5% in 2025
- Unemployment−3.3 pp6.5% in 2025
- Female unemployment−2.0 pp7.0% in 2025
- Youth unemployment−10.4 pp18.5% in 2025
Worse than ten years ago
- Women's participation−0.7 pp61.0% in 2025
- Wage workers−2.6 pp80.5% in 2025
- Vulnerable employment+2.5 pp18.8% in 2025
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
Barbados and its nearest countries
Barbados has no land border; compared with the closest countries by distance between capitals. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Barbados | Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Grenada | Dominica |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour force | 151,6202025 | 101,7712025 | 53,6882025 | — | — |
| Participation rate | 64.7%2025 | 68.3%2025 | 67.9%2025 | — | — |
| Women's participation | 61.0%2025 | 62.0%2025 | 59.2%2025 | — | — |
| Employment rate | 60.5%2025 | 61.8%2025 | 55.7%2025 | — | — |
| Unemployment | 6.5%2025 | 9.5%2025 | 18.0%2025 | — | — |
| Female unemployment | 7.0%2025 | 10.7%2025 | 16.0%2025 | — | — |
| Youth unemployment | 18.5%2025 | 20.3%2025 | 41.9%2025 | — | — |
| Youth NEET rate | 29.0%2016 | 25.5%2025 | — | 20.1%2023 | — |
| Wage workers | 80.5%2025 | 73.3%2025 | 74.3%2025 | — | — |