Skip to content
CountryAtlas

Barbados · Employment & wages

Unemployment, participation, employment, youth, wages and hours.

19 indicators · 12 with data

Unemployment

Unemployment

% of labour force

122nd of 185 · 17th in Latin America
CompareRankingIndicator page
UnemploymentBarbados's unemployment fell from 14.7 % in 1996 to 6.5 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020250%5%10%15%20%6.5 %

Barbados's unemployment fell from 14.7 % in 1996 to 6.5 % in 2025.

Youth unemployment

% of labour force ages 15–24

128th of 183 · 18th in Latin America
CompareRankingIndicator page
Youth unemploymentBarbados's youth unemployment fell from 28.1 % in 1996 to 18.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202515%20%25%30%35%18.5 %

Barbados's youth unemployment fell from 28.1 % in 1996 to 18.5 % in 2025.

Participation

Participation

% of population ages 15+

65th of 182 · 12th in Latin America
CompareRankingIndicator page
ParticipationBarbados's participation fell from 68.9 % in 1996 to 64.7 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202560%62%64%66%68%70%72%64.7 %

Barbados's participation fell from 68.9 % in 1996 to 64.7 % in 2025.

Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)

% of female population ages 15+

44th of 182 · 6th in Latin America
CompareRankingIndicator page
Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)Barbados's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) fell from 63.6 % in 1996 to 61.0 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202558%60%62%64%66%61.0 %

Barbados's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) fell from 63.6 % in 1996 to 61.0 % in 2025.

Employment

Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)

% of population ages 15+

69th of 182 · 11th in Latin America
CompareRankingIndicator page
Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)Barbados's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) rose from 58.8 % in 1996 to 60.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202554%56%58%60%62%64%66%60.5 %

Barbados's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) rose from 58.8 % in 1996 to 60.5 % in 2025.

Labour force, total

people

171st of 182 · 28th in Latin America
CompareRankingIndicator page
Labour force, totalBarbados's labour force, total rose from 139,437 in 1996 to 151,620 in 2025.200020052010201520202025135k140k145k150k155k151,620

Barbados's labour force, total rose from 139,437 in 1996 to 151,620 in 2025.

Self-employed (% of total employment)

% of employment

123rd of 182 · 28th in Latin America
CompareRankingIndicator page
Self-employed (% of total employment)Barbados's self-employed (% of total employment) rose from 12.8 % in 1996 to 19.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202510%12%14%16%18%20%22%19.5 %

Barbados's self-employed (% of total employment) rose from 12.8 % in 1996 to 19.5 % in 2025.

Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)

% of employment

66th of 182 · 5th in Latin America
CompareRankingIndicator page
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)Barbados's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) rose from 12.6 % in 1996 to 18.8 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202510%12%14%16%18%20%22%18.8 %

Barbados's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) rose from 12.6 % in 1996 to 18.8 % in 2025.

Structure

Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)

% of employment

167th of 182 · 29th in Latin America
CompareRankingIndicator page
Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)Barbados's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 4.8 % in 1996 to 1.2 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020250%1%2%3%4%5%1.2 %

Barbados's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 4.8 % in 1996 to 1.2 % in 2025.

Employment in industry (% of total employment)

% of employment

129th of 182 · 27th in Latin America
CompareRankingIndicator page
Employment in industry (% of total employment)Barbados's employment in industry (% of total employment) fell from 23.5 % in 1996 to 16.2 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202515%20%25%16.2 %

Barbados's employment in industry (% of total employment) fell from 23.5 % in 1996 to 16.2 % in 2025.

Employment in services (% of total employment)

% of employment

13th of 182 · 3rd in Latin America
CompareRankingIndicator page
Employment in services (% of total employment)Barbados's employment in services (% of total employment) rose from 71.7 % in 1996 to 82.6 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202565%70%75%80%85%82.6 %

Barbados's employment in services (% of total employment) rose from 71.7 % in 1996 to 82.6 % in 2025.

Productivity

GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)

constant 2021 PPP $

90th of 168 · 14th in Latin America
CompareRankingIndicator page
GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)Barbados's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $41.3k in 1996 to intl $44.1k in 2025.200020052010201520202025intl $35kintl $40kintl $45kintl $44.1k

Barbados's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $41.3k in 1996 to intl $44.1k in 2025.

›No data available (7)

These indicators exist in the registry but no source reports a value for Barbados.

Other topics