Barbados Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Barbados's unemployment rate was 6.52% in 2025, ranked 118th globally. This represents a 17.6% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1981–2025.
Overview
Barbados's unemployment rate stood at 6.52% in 2025, a decline of +1.39pp from 2024. The IMF projects 7.92% by 2025. Barbados ranked 118th globally.
Barbados’ unemployment rate has fallen dramatically from an early‑record high of 10.76 % in 1981 to a historic low of 6.45 % in 2024, before edging slightly upward to 6.52 % in 2025, placing the island at rank 118 globally. The sharpest deterioration occurred in 1993 when the rate peaked at 24.54 %, a reflection of regional economic shocks and structural adjustments that strained the labour market. Since the early 2000s, policy reforms, diversification of tourism, and modest growth in offshore financial services have helped sustain a downward trajectory, bringing the rate close to that of peers such as Latvia (6.57 %) and Italy (6.39 %). Nevertheless, the modest rise from the 2024 trough suggests vulnerability to external demand fluctuations and domestic skill mismatches. Continued investment in vocational training, renewable energy projects, and digital infrastructure will be crucial to deepen the decline and prevent a reversal of the recent gains.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 7.83% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 7.81% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 7.88% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 7.85% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 7.82% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 7.92% | - | - |
| 2025 | 6.52% | −1.39pp | #118 |
| 2024 | 6.45% | −1.77pp | #120 |
| 2023 | 6.54% | −1.61pp | #125 |
| 2022 | 7.26% | −6.84pp | #129 |
| 2021 | 11.02% | −4.71pp | #145 |
| 2020 | 10.59% | +0.50pp | #139 |
| 2019 | 8.41% | −1.64pp | #135 |
| 2018 | 8.32% | −1.63pp | #129 |
| 2017 | 8.62% | −1.03pp | #129 |
| 2016 | 8.25% | −3.05pp | #125 |
| 2015 | 9.80% | −2.47pp | #136 |
| 2014 | 12.17% | +0.55pp | #153 |
| 2013 | 11.55% | +0.05pp | #143 |
| 2012 | 11.59% | +0.44pp | #143 |
| 2011 | 11.19% | +0.94pp | #143 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Barbados matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2011. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Barbados's unemployment rate was 6.52% in 2025. Ranked 118th globally. This represents a 17.6% decrease from the previous year.
Barbados's unemployment rate peaked at 24.54% in 1993.
The lowest unemployment rate in Barbados was 6.45% in 2024.
Barbados ranks 118th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Barbados's unemployment rate is projected to reach 7.92% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The unemployment rate of Barbados in 2025 was 6.52%. This ranks 118th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_barbados_unemployment-rate,
title = {Barbados Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/barbados/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}