NASSAU,BAHAMAS — Shadow Minister of Finance J. Kwasi Thompson has called the PLP’s economic stewardship a failure after the Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI) reported 5,571 jobs lost, rising unemployment, and nearly one in three workers underemployed, highlighting serious challenges in the country’s labour market.
The BNSI released the January 2025 Labour Force Survey (LFS) on September 17, marking the third release of the survey’s second revision. According to the data, the total labour force in January 2025 numbered 240,650 individuals, with 121,565 males (50.5 percent) and 119,085 females (49.5 percent). Overall, the labour force participation rate stood at 76 percent, with men participating at a higher rate of 80.4 percent compared to 72 percent for women.
Employment data showed 214,725 individuals were employed, with men representing slightly more than half (108,935). Of these employed individuals, 65,225—or nearly 30 percent—were classified as underemployed, working part-time while seeking additional hours. Thompson described the underemployment figures as “a clear indication of a stalling economy,” saying, “Almost one in every three employed Bahamians is not getting enough work. This is devastating for families trying to make ends meet.”
Occupational trends revealed that the largest employment group was ‘Service Workers & Shop Market Sales Workers,’ which employed 57,685 individuals, including 33,880 women. The second-largest group was ‘Professional, Science & Engineering Professionals,’ employing 46,835 individuals, followed by ‘Craft and Related Workers, Plant & Machine Operators & Assemblers’ with 35,120 people, mostly men (31,615). The largest industry employer was ‘Community, Social & Personal Services,’ with 78,375 employees, followed by ‘Hotels and Restaurants,’ which employed 41,260. Thompson noted, “Virtually all major private sector initiatives that have come online during the PLP’s watch were inherited from the former FNM government, while their own projects remain stalled or embroiled in scandal.”
The survey also highlighted gender and qualification disparities. Women with university degrees outnumbered men nearly two to one, while men were more likely to have no formal qualifications—28 percent compared with 17 percent for women. These figures underscore ongoing challenges in workforce development and the need for targeted skills training. Thompson emphasized that “the PLP has failed to create meaningful opportunities for Bahamians, particularly in high-skill, high-paying sectors where women and young people could thrive.”
Unemployment figures remain a concern. The total number of unemployed individuals in January 2025 was 25,925, with women making up 51.3 percent. Youth unemployment (ages 15–24) was particularly high at 20.9 percent, with young women slightly more affected (21.7 percent) than young men (20.3 percent). Thompson argued that the PLP’s failure to address youth unemployment was “shortsighted and harmful to the country’s long-term economic stability,” adding that “the youth represent the future of our workforce, yet under this government, too many are left on the sidelines.”
In addition to employment trends, the survey counted 106,480 individuals outside the labour force, with women (63,465) outnumbering men (43,015). Of those outside the labour force, 3.5 percent were considered part of the potential labour force—people available to work but not actively seeking employment. Young adults aged 15–24 accounted for 25,520 of this group, highlighting the persistent challenge of engaging younger Bahamians in the labour market.
“The Bahamian economy has been put into reverse. In less than a year, we’ve seen over 5,500 jobs disappear, unemployment rise by nearly 50 percent, and thousands of workers forced into underemployment. The PLP’s record is clear: high inflation, high taxes, high electricity bills, a stalling economy, and endless scandals that have left ordinary Bahamians struggling,” Thompson said.
He singled out the tourism sector, a key engine of the economy: “Stopover tourism is flat and trending in the wrong direction. Instead of taking advantage of global opportunities, the PLP has allowed growth to stall. Their mishandling of key sectors has real consequences for Bahamians’ livelihoods.”
Thompson also stressed the broader impact on families and communities, noting that the labour market challenges disproportionately affect women and young adults. “Women aged 20 to 44 and 45 to 54 are more likely to be unemployed than men in the same age cohorts. Our young people are especially vulnerable, facing a 20.9 percent unemployment rate. The PLP has left Bahamians behind,” he said.
Outlining the Free National Movement’s (FNM) plan to reverse these trends, Thompson said the party would “fast-track developments, cut red tape, digitize processes, and unleash stalled private and public projects to rapidly create new jobs. We will invest $50 million in small and medium-sized businesses to empower entrepreneurs, strengthen local communities, and create opportunities. Our plan includes building a technology industry, launching an aggressive housing program, and removing unnecessary obstacles that hinder business growth.”
Thompson concluded: “Only the Free National Movement can get the economy moving again. Bahamians deserve a government that creates jobs, supports small businesses, and provides opportunities for our youth and families. The PLP has failed to deliver, and the BNSI data makes that failure undeniable.”
