Photo: Bryce Edwards from San Jose, CA, USA derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Bahamas: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Bahamas is placed 108th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 66.98 (2025); Labour Income Share 34.41 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
108th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Bahamas on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
66.98
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Bahamas: 66.98. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Caribbean
- 67.28 Jamaica
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
9.207
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Bahamas: 9.207. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Caribbean
- 1.746 Cuba
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
15.94
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Bahamas: 15.94. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Caribbean
- 5.474 United States Virgin Islands
02Over time
Which way Bahamas is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
BahamasWorld median
Bahamas fell from 69.07 in 2000 to 66.98 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Bahamas World median 2025 66.98 57.720 2024 67.30 57.694 2023 67.72 58.158 2022 67.29 57.688 2021 61.94 56.066 2020 59.90 55.691 2019 67.46 57.871 2018 66.87 56.911 2017 66.89 56.738 2016 64.63 56.845 2015 65.07 56.788 2014 63.67 56.774 2013 61.87 56.229 2012 63.45 56.289 2011 63.09 56.297 2010 63.19 56.212 2009 63.38 56.255 2008 67.94 57.308 2007 68.23 56.933 2006 68.56 56.685 2005 66.65 56.129 2004 66.71 55.465 2003 66.28 55.630 2002 67.64 55.843 2001 69.27 56.018 2000 69.07 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
BahamasWorld median
Bahamas fell from 38.61 in 2004 to 34.41 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Bahamas World median 2025 34.41 46.230 2024 34.27 46.060 2023 34.32 45.900 2022 34.34 45.615 2021 35.69 45.433 2020 35.49 47.267 2019 35.10 46.277 2018 35.08 46.187 2017 35.31 46.467 2016 34.48 46.798 2015 33.31 46.876 2014 34.68 47.281 2013 37.04 46.887 2012 38.13 46.231 2011 37.66 45.679 2010 38.14 46.024 2009 38.71 47.071 2008 36.63 45.312 2007 38.01 45.246 2006 39.52 45.670 2005 37.50 46.265 2004 38.61 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
BahamasWorld median
Bahamas rose from 7.118 in 2000 to 9.207 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Bahamas World median 2025 9.207 5.08 2024 9.049 5.15 2023 8.645 5.21 2022 9.250 5.34 2021 11.078 6.04 2020 12.016 6.38 2019 9.336 5.36 2018 10.000 5.35 2017 9.800 5.59 2016 12.700 5.90 2015 12.000 6.41 2014 13.800 6.58 2013 16.180 6.71 2012 14.020 6.79 2011 14.520 6.90 2010 14.435 7.04 2009 14.250 6.67 2008 8.180 5.79 2007 7.880 6.00 2006 7.540 6.50 2005 10.200 7.09 2004 10.200 6.80 2003 10.840 6.95 2002 9.050 6.91 2001 6.870 6.96 2000 7.118 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
BahamasWorld median
Bahamas rose from 14.83 in 2000 to 15.94 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Bahamas World median 2025 15.943 28.67 2024 15.960 29.04 2023 16.079 29.33 2022 15.453 29.67 2021 14.784 30.01 2020 14.290 30.54 2019 13.716 29.98 2018 13.738 30.15 2017 13.744 29.93 2016 13.777 29.91 2015 13.886 30.26 2014 13.881 30.47 2013 13.971 31.14 2012 13.996 31.00 2011 14.094 31.41 2010 13.702 32.37 2009 13.299 32.59 2008 13.289 31.76 2007 13.693 33.47 2006 14.045 34.27 2005 14.502 34.66 2004 14.958 35.51 2003 14.271 35.90 2002 15.321 35.96 2001 13.916 35.27 2000 14.827 35.67
03In context
Bahamas beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Bahamas and Caribbean
Bahamas has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Jamaica | 25th | 67.28 | 53.45 | 3.286 | 31.56 |
 Barbados | =54th | 60.47 | 55.58 | 6.524 | 18.8 |
 Trinidad and Tobago | 68th | 55.83 | 45.2 | 3.329 | 21.25 |
 Puerto Rico | =72nd | 40.22 | 59 | 5.991 | 10.31 |
 Cuba | =78th | 51.34 | 41.31 | 1.746 | 19.32 |
 Dominican Republic | =83rd | 61.54 | 48.4 | 5.092 | 37.99 |
 United States Virgin Islands | 89th | 48.14 | 55.98 | 11.44 | 5.474 |
 Saint Lucia | 91st | 61.81 | 47.41 | 9.452 | 21.99 |
| Bahamas | 108th | 66.98 | 34.41 | 9.207 | 15.94 |
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 131st | 55.68 | 46.79 | 18 | 21.96 |
 Haiti | 155th | 54.38 | 52.18 | 14.94 | 76.04 |
 Anguilla | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Antigua and Barbuda | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Aruba | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 British Virgin Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Cayman Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Curaçao | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Dominica | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Grenada | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Montserrat | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Saint Martin | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Sint Maarten | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Turks and Caicos Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Caribbean
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
- Jamaica25th
- Barbados=54th
- Trinidad and Tobago68th
- Puerto Rico=72nd
- Cuba=78th
- Dominican Republic=83rd
- United States Virgin Islands89th
- Saint Lucia91st
- Bahamas108th
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines131st
- Haiti155th
- Anguillanot placed
- Antigua and Barbudanot placed
- Arubanot placed
- British Virgin Islandsnot placed
- Cayman Islandsnot placed
- Curaçaonot placed
- Dominicanot placed
- Grenadanot placed
- Montserratnot placed
- Saint Kitts and Nevisnot placed
- Saint Martinnot placed
- Sint Maartennot placed
- Turks and Caicos Islandsnot placed
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Bahamas in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Bahamas is ahead of the world, and behind
22 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median9
Statistics on which Bahamas does better than the middle country measured.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3670.7353.36No real change since 2015
Bahamas: 70.73 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 17th of 182 · derived.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1633.2219.16No earlier reading
Bahamas: 33.22 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 17th of 179 · derived.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6673.7861.66No real change since 2015
Bahamas: 73.78 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 19th of 182 · derived.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 026.90No earlier reading
Bahamas: 26.9 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1635.0522.16No real change since 2015
Bahamas: 35.05 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 60th of 182 · derived.
Informal Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 36.7615.2836.76No earlier reading
Bahamas: 15.28 · world median 36.76 · Informal employment (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.857 to 94.44; lower is better.
Position 64th of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.967.445.9No earlier reading
Bahamas: 67.4 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Average Monthly Earnings of EmployeesILO · 2024 · world median 1,6362,6601,636▼ Worsened since 2019
Bahamas: 2,660 · world median 1,636 · Average monthly earnings of employees (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 193.28 to 9,307; higher is better.
Position 28th of 75 · derived.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0737.0932.07No earlier reading
Bahamas: 37.09 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Behind the world median6
Statistics on which Bahamas does worse than the middle country measured.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.6121.61▲ Improved since 2015
Bahamas: 2 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8319.2512.83▲ Improved since 2015
Bahamas: 19.25 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 52nd of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 988498▼ Worsened since 2015
Bahamas: 84 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Bahamas: 0 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4)ILO · 2024 · world median 12.5622.7812.56No earlier reading
Bahamas: 22.78 · world median 12.56 · Composite rate of labour underutilisation, LU4 (% of the extended labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.495 to 49.82; lower is better.
Position 10th of 76 · derived, 1st = worst.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8167.4641.81No earlier reading
Bahamas: 67.46 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 19th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end7
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5184.4459.51No real change since 2015
Bahamas: 84.44 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 8th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.951,017657.95No real change since 2014
Bahamas: 1,017 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Share of Temporary EmployeesILO · 2024 · world median 13.4519.2513.45Moved since 2019
Bahamas: 19.25 · world median 13.45 · Employees on temporary contracts (% of employees). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.337 to 72.78.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8936.6438.89Moved since 2015
Bahamas: 36.64 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 119th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8417.0531.84Moved since 2015
Bahamas: 17.05 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 131st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8814.7918.88Moved since 2015
Bahamas: 14.79 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 140th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.380.77514.38Moved since 2015
Bahamas: 0.775 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 178th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Bahamas
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker (last 2024), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2023), GDP per Person Employed (last 2024), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2023), Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate (last 2023), Public Sector Employment, Trade Union Density, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Bahamas’s 12 topics
Work & Labour is Bahamas’s 8th best-placed topic of 12. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Food & Agriculture13th of 1843/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties59th of 1983/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions69th of 1943/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience74th of 1933/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing96th of 2002/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital99th of 1963/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade97th of 1773/4 keys
- Work & Labour108th of 1824/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 150th of 1983/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability162nd of 1862/4 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 176th of 1983/4 keys
- Energy156th of 1652/3 keys
No standing on Economy & Innovation, Gender & Equality, Peace & Security, Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Bahamas can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
United States14th4/4 keysHighest in Caribbean
Jamaica25th4/4 keysThis page
Bahamas108th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Bahamas and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Bahamas on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Bahamas rank on work & labour?
Bahamas is placed 108th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Bahamas?
66.98 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Bahamas?
34.41 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How have Bahamas’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 69.07 in 2000 to 66.98 in 2025; Labour Income Share fell from 38.61 in 2004 to 34.41 in 2025; Unemployment Rate rose from 7.118 in 2000 to 9.207 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment rose from 14.83 in 2000 to 15.94 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Bahamas?
No current reading is published for Bahamas on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, GDP per Person Employed, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Trade Union Density, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 22 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Bahamas’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Bahamas (banner) — Bryce Edwards from San Jose, CA, USA derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 2.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Bahamas: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/bahamas/work