Photo: Mjr74 · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Saint Lucia: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Saint Lucia is placed 91st 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 61.81 (2025); Labour Income Share 47.41 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
91st
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Saint Lucia 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
61.81
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Saint Lucia: 61.81. 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
9.452
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Saint Lucia: 9.452. 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
21.99
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Saint Lucia: 21.99. 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 Saint Lucia 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
Saint LuciaWorld median
Saint Lucia rose from 53.48 in 2000 to 61.81 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Saint Lucia World median 2025 61.81 57.720 2024 61.27 57.694 2023 60.27 58.158 2022 58.14 57.688 2021 52.06 56.066 2020 40.18 55.691 2019 58.06 57.871 2018 56.37 56.911 2017 56.10 56.738 2016 55.52 56.845 2015 54.87 56.788 2014 54.33 56.774 2013 53.87 56.229 2012 55.87 56.289 2011 54.42 56.297 2010 55.35 56.212 2009 56.28 56.255 2008 57.79 57.308 2007 56.69 56.933 2006 55.13 56.685 2005 53.12 56.129 2004 51.40 55.465 2003 50.38 55.630 2002 51.31 55.843 2001 52.26 56.018 2000 53.48 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
Saint LuciaWorld median
Saint Lucia rose from 46.84 in 2004 to 47.41 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Saint Lucia World median 2025 47.412 46.230 2024 47.207 46.060 2023 47.390 45.900 2022 45.929 45.615 2021 45.321 45.433 2020 49.703 47.267 2019 47.474 46.277 2018 47.185 46.187 2017 47.157 46.467 2016 47.153 46.798 2015 47.392 46.876 2014 47.303 47.281 2013 47.530 46.887 2012 47.406 46.231 2011 47.086 45.679 2010 47.370 46.024 2009 47.592 47.071 2008 47.029 45.312 2007 47.256 45.246 2006 46.924 45.670 2005 47.393 46.265 2004 46.836 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
Saint LuciaWorld median
Saint Lucia fell from 16.49 in 2000 to 9.452 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Saint Lucia World median 2025 9.45 5.08 2024 10.20 5.15 2023 12.09 5.21 2022 15.93 5.34 2021 20.51 6.04 2020 25.22 6.38 2019 15.61 5.36 2018 19.33 5.35 2017 19.14 5.59 2016 19.93 5.90 2015 20.84 6.41 2014 21.58 6.58 2013 22.21 6.71 2012 19.06 6.79 2011 18.86 6.90 2010 17.12 7.04 2009 15.37 6.67 2008 12.72 5.79 2007 14.00 6.00 2006 16.00 6.50 2005 18.70 7.09 2004 20.97 6.80 2003 22.18 6.95 2002 20.39 6.91 2001 18.54 6.96 2000 16.49 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
Saint LuciaWorld median
Saint Lucia fell from 22.48 in 2000 to 21.99 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Saint Lucia World median 2025 21.9865 28.67 2024 22.1016 29.04 2023 23.9217 29.33 2022 24.1075 29.67 2021 22.8372 30.01 2020 23.6991 30.54 2019 24.7724 29.98 2018 23.0193 30.15 2017 22.6461 29.93 2016 22.6426 29.91 2015 22.6849 30.26 2014 22.7245 30.47 2013 22.8238 31.14 2012 22.8244 31.00 2011 22.8574 31.41 2010 22.8935 32.37 2009 22.8134 32.59 2008 22.7847 31.76 2007 22.6926 33.47 2006 22.5367 34.27 2005 22.5914 34.66 2004 22.5920 35.51 2003 22.6894 35.90 2002 22.7709 35.96 2001 22.6509 35.27 2000 22.4831 35.67
03In context
Saint Lucia 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.
Saint Lucia and Caribbean
Saint Lucia 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 Saint Lucia in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Saint Lucia 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 median10
Statistics on which Saint Lucia does better than the middle country measured.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0758.9432.07No earlier reading
Saint Lucia: 58.94 · 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.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.610.391.61No real change since 2015
Saint Lucia: 0.39 · 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.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6668.2761.66No real change since 2015
Saint Lucia: 68.27 · 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 34th of 182 · derived.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1627.4219.16No earlier reading
Saint Lucia: 27.42 · 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 34th of 179 · derived.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3661.9953.36▼ Worsened since 2015
Saint Lucia: 61.99 · 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 37th of 182 · derived.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,23061,51225,230▲ Improved since 2010
Saint Lucia: 61,512 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 51st of 151 · derived.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.963.345.9No earlier reading
Saint Lucia: 63.3 · 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.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1623.722.16▼ Worsened since 2015
Saint Lucia: 23.7 · 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 84th of 182 · derived.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38447,90147,384▼ Worsened since 2015
Saint Lucia: 47,901 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 82nd of 168 · derived.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,7427,2356,742▲ Improved since 2015
Saint Lucia: 7,235 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 74th of 151 · derived.
Behind the world median6
Statistics on which Saint Lucia does worse than the middle country measured.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 989198▼ Worsened since 2015
Saint Lucia: 91 · 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.
Youth Not in Education, Employment or TrainingILO · 2024 · world median 14.3122.6314.31▲ Improved since 2016
Saint Lucia: 22.63 · world median 14.31 · Youth not in education, employment or training (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.975 to 65.73; lower is better.
Position 25th of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8320.2512.83▲ Improved since 2015
Saint Lucia: 20.25 · 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 46th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Saint Lucia: 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.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8163.641.81No earlier reading
Saint Lucia: 63.6 · 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 25th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.681.84316.68No earlier reading
Saint Lucia: 1.843 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 136th of 139 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Saint Lucia: 0 · 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.
No better end5
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 59.5176.3259.51No real change since 2015
Saint Lucia: 76.32 · 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 34th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8940.2738.89Moved since 2015
Saint Lucia: 40.27 · 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 77th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8426.7431.84No real change since 2015
Saint Lucia: 26.74 · 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 107th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.387.47414.38Moved since 2015
Saint Lucia: 7.474 · 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 117th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8816.2118.88Moved since 2015
Saint Lucia: 16.21 · 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 128th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Saint Lucia
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2016), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2016), Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Statutory Minimum Wage and Working Poverty Rate. 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 Saint Lucia’s 15 topics
Work & Labour is Saint Lucia’s 9th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Risk & Resilience23rd of 1933/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 23rd of 1842/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation34th of 1762/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 47th of 1982/4 keys
- Gender & Equality45th of 1832/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions66th of 1943/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality60th of 1593/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge97th of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labour91st of 1824/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 110th of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing121st of 2002/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 121st of 1864/4 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 126th of 1772/4 keys
- Digital & Technology170th of 1983/4 keys
- Energy152nd of 1652/3 keys
No standing on Peace & Security: 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 Saint Lucia 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
Saint Lucia91st4/4 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 Saint Lucia 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
Saint Lucia 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 Saint Lucia rank on work & labour?
Saint Lucia is placed 91st 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 Saint Lucia?
61.81 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 Saint Lucia?
47.41 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 Saint Lucia’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio rose from 53.48 in 2000 to 61.81 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 46.84 in 2004 to 47.41 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 16.49 in 2000 to 9.452 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 22.48 in 2000 to 21.99 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Saint Lucia?
No current reading is published for Saint Lucia on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Statutory Minimum Wage and Working Poverty Rate. 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
Saint Lucia’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Saint Lucia (banner) — Mjr74, CC0
- 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). Saint Lucia: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/saint-lucia/work