Labour Force Curaçao

Labour Force Curaçao

2 August 2026

People often complain that there is no data available. The reality, however, may be quite different. There is actually an abundance of data. The recently published Labour Force Survey 2025 by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) spans 48 pages and provides a wealth of information about Curaçao's labour market. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to highlight, but I'll give it a try.

In just one year, Curaçao's labour force declined from just over 78,000 to nearly 75,000 people. At the same time, the unemployment rate fell from 7.8 percent to 5.1 percent. Around 55 percent of employed persons have a permanent job, while 8.1 percent indicate that they would like to work more hours.

The number of unemployed people dropped from 6,094 in 2024 to 3,828 in 2025. Remarkably, many job seekers reported that they are willing to accept almost any type of work.

At the same time, the number of economically inactive persons increased from nearly 55,000 to more than 61,000. The largest group consists of people aged 65 and over, reflecting the continuing ageing of our society. In addition, young people aged 15 to 24 are remaining outside the labour market longer in order to complete their education. For people aged 35 to 64, illness, physical disabilities or mental health problems are the main reasons for not participating in the labour market.

The CBS also makes an important observation. The decline in unemployment does not automatically mean that the labour market has become healthier. Part of the explanation lies in the growth of the economically inactive population. Furthermore, the CBS points out that informal employment may lead to an underestimation of labour force participation, particularly in the tourism and construction sectors.

After labour income, the second most important source of income is the old-age pension (AOV), accounting for about 21 percent. Another striking finding is that nearly two-thirds of employed persons earn less than Cg. 3,000 per month. The average monthly income is Cg. 2,060, with women earning an average of Cg. 1,839 compared with Cg. 2,342 for men. In addition, two-thirds of the population have no secondary source of income. Among those who do, labour income and the AOV are the most common sources.

The report also highlights persistent gender differences. Women spend, on average, one and a half hours more per day on household chores and caregiving than men. Furthermore, only 13 percent of the population reported having performed voluntary work during the past year.

Conclusion. The report paints a nuanced picture. The economy is growing and unemployment is falling, yet at the same time the labour force is shrinking and the number of economically inactive people is rising sharply. Population ageing continues, while many workers still earn relatively modest incomes despite economic growth. This raises the question of how much of that growth is actually reaching the population. That is precisely why the debate on the purchasing power of AOV recipients and the continued absence of indexation remains so socially relevant.

I cannot resist ending with one final observation. The figures show that economic growth does not automatically benefit everyone. The challenge for the coming years is therefore not simply to achieve more economic growth, but to ensure inclusive growth—growth that leads to higher incomes, greater labour force participation and a better quality of life for all Curaçaoans.

Miguel Goede