Antigua and Barbuda is currently operating at near-full employment, according to Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who has publicly committed the government to commissioning an updated national labour market survey to capture accurate, up-to-date workforce dynamics. Speaking during a parliamentary question-and-answer session, Browne acknowledged that the most recent comprehensive analysis of the country’s labour market dates back to between 2016 and 2017, leaving policymakers without the granular, current data needed to shape evidence-based employment policy. While formal statistical data is overdue for a refresh, Browne noted that on-the-ground and anecdotal observations paint a clear picture of a tight labour market, with the country hitting a near-full employment threshold. As primary evidence of robust labour demand, Browne highlighted the consistent stream of new arrivals to the twin-island nation who are able to secure employment almost immediately upon entry. “In fact, there are people coming into this country literally on a daily basis and obtaining employment,” he told parliament.
Beyond the strong overall employment picture, however, the prime minister outlined a growing, persistent challenge that is disrupting local industries: a rising reluctance among native-born Antiguans and Barbudans to take on open roles that align with their existing qualifications. Browne framed this trend as an emerging cultural shift that is creating widespread staffing shortages across multiple key sectors of the national economy. “We have a developing cultural problem within the society,” he said. Local employers across critical service industries including retail, private security, domestic work and hospitality have consistently reported struggles to fill open entry-level and skilled positions with local workers, even as unemployment remains near historic lows. The surge in demand for foreign labour has been reflected in a sharp uptick in work permit applications across the country. In response to this trend, the national Cabinet recently moved to centralize the work permit approval process to streamline applications, but Browne confirmed that many businesses continue to face major challenges recruiting local candidates for open roles.
Synthesizing his observations of the current labour market, Browne argued that the small number of working-age people who remain out of work are largely not unemployed due to a lack of available jobs. “I’m pretty convinced that we practically have full employment and that those who are not employed is that they’re either not willing to work or they’re unavailable to work,” he concluded.