Workers from Jamaica and the Philippines dominate the job scene across the British Virgin Islands. Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley spilled the numbers during a recent government meeting. Jamaica leads with 709 active work permits on the books. The Philippines follows close behind with 630 permits. These two nations grab the biggest slice of foreign worker spots.
The government counted 5,913 active work permits as of late May 2025. Officials approved 5,217 of those permits already. Another 696 applications sit waiting for approval. Dominican Republic workers hold 547 permits. People from St Vincent and the Grenadines secured 522 spots.
Opposition politician Marlon Penn questioned these official figures. He thinks the real numbers might be much higher than reported. Penn doubts that only 5,000 work permits exist across the territory. The Premier admitted the data might have some holes. He explained that the government switched to a new computer system last July.
Dr. Wheatley acknowledged that some businesses probably hire workers without proper permits. The government plans to double-check their information for accuracy. They want to find out where the missing numbers might be hiding. Officials will investigate to get the true count of foreign workers. The Premier promised to dig deeper into the data gaps.
Local job seekers face tough competition from overseas workers. About 2,342 Virgin Islanders currently hunt for employment through the official system. The government blames a skills shortage for the high local unemployment rate. Training programs aim to teach locals carpentry, masonry, electrical work, and plumbing trades.
The government counted 5,913 active work permits as of late May 2025. Officials approved 5,217 of those permits already. Another 696 applications sit waiting for approval. Dominican Republic workers hold 547 permits. People from St Vincent and the Grenadines secured 522 spots.
Opposition politician Marlon Penn questioned these official figures. He thinks the real numbers might be much higher than reported. Penn doubts that only 5,000 work permits exist across the territory. The Premier admitted the data might have some holes. He explained that the government switched to a new computer system last July.
Dr. Wheatley acknowledged that some businesses probably hire workers without proper permits. The government plans to double-check their information for accuracy. They want to find out where the missing numbers might be hiding. Officials will investigate to get the true count of foreign workers. The Premier promised to dig deeper into the data gaps.
Local job seekers face tough competition from overseas workers. About 2,342 Virgin Islanders currently hunt for employment through the official system. The government blames a skills shortage for the high local unemployment rate. Training programs aim to teach locals carpentry, masonry, electrical work, and plumbing trades.
