The Bahamas has witnessed a notable decline in its unemployment rate, which fell to 9.3 percent in the second quarter of 2025, as revealed by preliminary data from the Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI). This marks a significant improvement from the first quarter’s 10.8 percent, driven by a surge in employment figures between April and June. Total employment rose to 218,620, an increase of 3,895 jobs, while the number of unemployed individuals dropped to 22,470, reflecting a reduction of 3,455. Both genders benefited from this positive trend, with male unemployment decreasing from 12,630 to 10,690 and female unemployment declining from 13,295 to 11,780. Youth unemployment also saw a slight improvement, falling to 20.3 percent, a 0.6 percentage point decrease from the previous quarter. The labour force expanded modestly to 241,090, with the participation rate climbing to 76.7 percent. Male participation rose to 80.7 percent, while female participation reached 72.4 percent. Key sectors such as construction, wholesale and retail, and community services experienced significant employment gains, with construction leading the way at a 17 percent increase. The number of discouraged workers, those who have stopped seeking employment due to perceived lack of opportunities, plummeted by 64 percent to 2,270. Educational qualifications among the workforce varied, with 27 percent reporting no formal examinations as their highest qualification, while 26 percent held a Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education.