Labor and income
The participation of the population 15 years and older in the labor market is measured during every Population and Housing Census and on a yearly basis by means of a Labor Force Survey and is a measure of the percentage of the population 15 years and older that is either employed or actively seeking employment and ready to start working within 2 weeks of getting a job (unemployed).
In the last 6 decades, a decline can be observed in the labor participation of males and an increase in the labor participation of females. While in 1960, 84.1% of males 15 years and older participated in the labor market, in 2022, the participation rate of males dropped to 63.5%. On the other hand, the participation rate of females increased from 27.4% in 1960 to 59.9% in 2022. Consequently, the inactivity rate of males increased between 1960 and 2020 from 15.9% to 36.5% in 2022 and the inactivity rate of females dropped from 72.6% in 1960 to 40.1% in 2022.
In July of 2022, more females participated in the labor market than males, 27.383 females against 26.466 males. In addition, more females were inactive, 20.874 females and 26.466 males. The latter is related to the presence of more females in the older age categories.
Source: Population and Housing Census, 1960, 1972, 1981, 1991, 2000, 2010, 2020
Source: Population and Housing Census, 1960, 1972, 1981, 1991, 2000, 2010, 2020
The employment and unemployment rates of the population change according to the state of the economy. In 1960, and 1972, the unemployment rate of the population was particularly high amongst both males and females, as was the case in 2010. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, preventative measures implemented by the government of Aruba kept a significant rise in the unemployment rate at bay. In 2020, the unemployment rate of males equaled 9.2% and that of females 8.0%. After the pandemic, the employment rate rose again to reach pre-pandemic levels in 2022, and the unemployment rate declined.