Three kinds of number get mixed up when people talk about jobs in Aruba, and they answer three different questions. An official labour statistic says what a survey measured about the labour force. Current vacancy demand says what employers are advertising now. A forecast says what an institution expects. This page explains which source is authoritative for which, gives the latest official figures and shows where to find them.
Official labour statistic ≠ current vacancy demand ≠ forecast. An unemployment rate does not tell you how many jobs are open this week, and neither tells you how many there will be next year.
The latest official numbers: LFS 2025
The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is Aruba’s statistical authority. On 28 September 2026 it published the results of the Labor Force Survey 2025, the most recent release.1 Its infographic gives these figures for people aged 15 and over, excluding those whose activity status was not reported:1
| Observed statistic, LFS 2025 | Persons | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Employed | 58,984 | 62.7% |
| Unemployed | 2,690 | 4.4% |
| Economically inactive | 32,397 | 34.4% |
The rates are not shares of one base. Our arithmetic check: 58,984 of the 94,071 people counted is 62.7%, so the employed and inactive rates are shares of everyone aged 15 and over, while the 4.4% unemployment rate matches 2,690 divided by the 61,674 people employed or unemployed, the labour force.
CBS’s chart also gives the series since 2017, in percent:1
| Year | Employed | Unemployed | Economically inactive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 57.7 | 8.9 | 36.6 |
| 2018 | 56.6 | 7.3 | 39.0 |
| 2019 | 62.5 | 5.2 | 34.1 |
| 2020 | 50.5 | 8.6 | 44.7 |
| 2021 | 55.9 | 8.8 | 38.7 |
| 2022 | 58.1 | 4.3 | 39.3 |
| 2023 | 60.2 | 4.0 | 37.2 |
| 2024 | 60.8 | 4.3 | 36.5 |
| 2025 | 62.7 | 4.4 | 34.4 |
What this shows: unemployment has stayed between 4.0% and 4.4% since 2022, and the employed share in 2025 is the highest in the series.1 What the infographic does not show: a youth figure, a breakdown by industry or occupation, or the survey’s reference period. We do not claim any of those. CBS has published a separate infographic on branch of industry and occupation; we did not use it for this page.
Who is the authority for what
| Source | What it is, and what it is not |
|---|---|
| CBS | Primary statistical authority. The labour force survey and other official statistics.1 |
| Central Bank of Aruba (CBA) | Macro context and forecasts. Growth, inflation and its view of the labour market. It is not a labour-force statistic.2 |
| DAO, the labour department and inspectorate | Labour-law guidance and the minimum-wage calculator. Its logo appears with those of CBS and the CBA on the LFS 2025 infographic.14 |
| DPL | Labour administration and mediation. Its site lists sections for labour-market registration, job mediation and reintegration, labour-market advice for foreign workers and business inspection.3 |
| AHATA, AFBA and ATIA | Employer and sector associations. Their job pages show what member employers advertise, which is observed demand and a sector view rather than a neutral measure.678 |
| Aruba Jobs | Observed demand on one job board. Useful, owned data, and not a market measure. |
| News media | Signals only. Confirm with the primary source before relying on a figure. |
What employers are advertising now: an observed signal
On 23 October 2026 Aruba Jobs had 65 open listings from 11 employers. Of those, 62 were full-time, 51 showed Eagle Beach as the location, and one stated a salary.5 This is observed demand on one board. It is concentrated in hospitality, and a listing is not a hire. It cannot be added to or compared with the LFS figures, and it says nothing about how many jobs exist across Aruba. We did not count the member job pages of AHATA, AFBA or ATIA for this page.678
What institutions expect: a forecast
The CBA’s Economic Outlook of September 2026 estimates that the economy grew 6.3% in 2025 and projects 3.7% in 2026, 2.3% in 2027, then 2.1% in 2028, 1.7% in 2029 and 1.0% in 2030. It says the tight labour market suggests businesses may increasingly rely on imported labour, and lists labour availability among the risks to the outlook.2 These are forecasts. They can change with each outlook, and they describe growth, not job numbers.
How to read them together
- Use CBS for what is true of the labour force: how many are employed, unemployed or inactive, and how that has moved.
- Use job boards to see what employers are asking for today, and keep in mind whose board it is.
- Use the CBA to understand the setting employers are hiring in, and treat its numbers as expectations.
- Do not turn one into another. A low unemployment rate is consistent with many or few open jobs, and a growth forecast is not a hiring forecast.
For what these figures mean for jobseekers and employers, see Aruba’s job market: what the LFS 2025 and the Central Bank say. We review this page every three months and whenever CBS or the CBA publish new figures.
Where to find the numbers
- CBS: Results LFS 2025 and its labour market releases
- Central Bank of Aruba: Economic Outlook, September 2026
- DPL and DAO
- AHATA, AFBA jobs, ATIA
- Aruba Jobs: browse jobs
Quick answers
What is the unemployment rate in Aruba?
4.4% in the Labor Force Survey 2025, published by CBS on 28 September 2026.1
Who is the official source for labour statistics in Aruba?
CBS. The CBA supplies macro context and forecasts, and DAO and DPL are labour departments with their own roles.123
Can I use a job board’s listings to say how many jobs there are?
No. Listing counts show what one board advertises. They are not vacancies across the island, and not hires.
Is a Central Bank forecast a prediction about jobs?
It is a forecast of growth and inflation. It mentions the labour market as a context and a risk, but it is not a job forecast.2
Where do I find the youth unemployment rate?
The LFS 2025 infographic does not give one. Check CBS’s other labour releases.1
