25/09/2025
Davis Administration Committed to Addressing Employability Challenges and Strengthening Opportunities for Bahamians
The Ministry of Labour and the Public Service acknowledges the findings of the Bahamas National Statistical Institute’s Labour Force Survey for the first quarter of 2025 indicating an unemployment rate of 10.8% for the first quarter of 2025 after employment had fallen to an over 20-year-low of 7.2% in the third quarter of 2024, and we remain committed to expanding employment opportunities for Bahamians.
The survey was conducted between January and March, reflecting cyclical contractions within the labour market due to seasonal layoffs, as well as wider trends in the construction and tourism industries.
During this time, labour force participation has increased from 74.8% in late 2024 to 76% percent in early 2025. This means more Bahamians entered the job market and are now actively seeking work. While this has contributed to the increase in the unemployment rate, it also signals confidence in the economy and an increased desire among Bahamians to engage in the workforce.
Speaking on the state of the labour market, Minister of Labour and the Public Service, Pia Glover-Rolle, noted that the data released this week was not reflective of the current state of the labour market, given that the most recent data available is from the start of this year; however, she expressed concern about long term issues with employment and unemployability, particularly among youth populations: “It is not simply that jobs are unavailable. Hundreds of openings exist in our Department of Labour database that we have been unable to fill. The real challenge lies in building and aligning skills with the opportunities on offer. That is why this administration has been proactive in investing in training, apprenticeships, and new pathways to ensure Bahamians are ready for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”
She pointed to the recently launched National Productivity Task Force as one of the key initiatives intended to address chronic issues with unemployability and productivity in a comprehensive way: “The National Productivity Task Force has been mandated to lay the foundation for a National Productivity Council. Its work includes creating the framework, systems, and stakeholder partnerships necessary to address productivity shortfalls that limit economic participation.”
Minister Glover-Rolle stated that the work of the task force will complement the foundation for progress already laid by the Davis Administration to address employment and employability issues.
She highlighted a number of programmes and initiatives specifically addressing skills gaps, including the National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP), which has ongoing pilots in the construction and maritime sectors; the Bahamas Polytechnic Accreditation & Training Hub (BPATH), which will allow high school students to obtain career certifications; the recently launched Creative and Performing Arts School (CAPAS), and the expansion of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) to Abaco, Eleuthera, and Exuma.
Beyond these initiatives, in recent months the Department of Labour has facilitated major hiring exercises to secure opportunities for qualified Bahamians, including the facilitation of hundreds of job opportunities in Grand Bahama, which took place after the first quarter of this year. These new job opportunities will be reflected in subsequent surveys.
Minister Glover-Rolle stressed that while the latest numbers reflect seasonal, socio-cultural, and global realities, the fundamentals of the Bahamian economy remain strong:
“Last year, our GDP continued to grow. And in the third quarter, unemployment reached one of its lowest points since the turn of the century. We remain confident that our policies, training initiatives, and investments will continue to expand opportunities and prepare Bahamians for long- term success. We are focused on creating jobs, and we are also going a step beyond to ensure that our people have the skills, training, and readiness to seize the jobs that will be created.”
The Minister reaffirmed the Davis Administration’s commitment to working with employers, educators, labour stakeholders, and young Bahamians to confront unemployability, strengthen productivity, and create sustainable pathways for economic and labour market growth.
