Aruba’s job market in 2026: what the numbers say

Aruba’s latest Labor Force Survey, published by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) on 28 September 2026, measured unemployment at 4.4% and found 62.7% of people aged 15 and over in work.¹ The Central Bank of Aruba (CBA) expects the economy to keep growing but more slowly, and calls the labour market tight.² This article separates what was measured, what employers advertise now, and what is only expected, because they answer different questions. The background is in our guide to the official numbers and where to find them.

The numbers in one place

Unemployment has stayed low: an observed statistic

CBS’s series shows unemployment at 8.9% in 2017, 8.6% in 2020 and 8.8% in 2021, then 4.3% in 2022, 4.0% in 2023, 4.3% in 2024 and 4.4% in 2025. The share of people aged 15 and over in work rose from 50.5% in 2020 to 62.7% in 2025, the highest in the series.¹ The 2025 infographic gives no youth figure and no breakdown by industry or occupation. The last youth figure we could verify is from the survey of November 2023, when unemployment among 15 to 24-year-olds was 11.1%.⁴ It is older than the rest of this article and should not be read as a 2025 result.

Growth is slowing: a forecast

The CBA estimates the economy grew 6.3% in 2025. It projects 3.7% for 2026 and 2.3% for 2027, then 2.1% in 2028, 1.7% in 2029 and 1.0% in 2030. It says household spending, supported by fiscal stimulus and rising employment, should carry 2026, and that tourism should add to growth through an expected rise in visitors.² It lists labour availability among the risks to the outlook.² These are projections. Each new outlook can change them, and they describe growth, not the number of jobs.

A tight labour market: what the Central Bank says

The CBA writes that the tight labour market suggests businesses may increasingly rely on imported labour.² That is the Central Bank’s assessment in a forecast. It is not a count of vacancies or of work permits, and it does not tell you which roles are affected.

What employers advertise now: an observed signal

On 23 October 2026 Aruba Jobs had 65 open listings from 11 employers, 62 of them full-time and 51 with Eagle Beach as the location. Only one stated a salary. That is demand observed on one board, concentrated in hospitality. It is not the job market as a whole, a listing is not a hire, and it cannot be compared with the CBS figures.³

What this means if you are looking for work

This is our reading, not a forecast and not a statistic:

• Low unemployment fits a market where employers compete for people, but it does not show how many jobs are open. Check the open jobs in your field and set a job alert rather than relying on a headline rate.
• Ask about pay and hours before you accept. Fewer than one in sixty current Aruba Jobs listings states a salary, and the minimum is set per hour; see Aruba’s minimum wage is now set by the hour.³
• Build proof of your skills. Certificates and references go with you from one employer to the next. Where to learn and upskill in Aruba lists training providers without ranking them.

How we keep this current

CBS holds the Labor Force Survey every year and the CBA updates its outlook regularly. We review this article every three months and update the figures when new ones are published.

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

Is Aruba’s economy growing in 2026?

The Central Bank projects 3.7% growth in 2026, after an estimated 6.3% in 2025, and slower growth in the years after.²

Is it hard to find a job in Aruba?

Unemployment is low in the official statistics, but the survey does not tell you how many jobs are open in your field. Look at current listings.¹

Does Aruba still depend on tourism?

The Central Bank expects tourism to contribute to growth in 2026, boosted by an expected rise in visitors.²

Updated 23 October 2026. Rewritten around the Labor Force Survey 2025, published on 28 September 2026, and the Central Bank’s September 2026 outlook. The earlier version relied on the 2024 survey and on 2023 figures, and included a single month of tourism arrivals; those are replaced by the 2025 survey and an explicit separation of statistics, observed listings and forecasts.