Prime Minister Gaston Browne says Antigua and Barbuda has reached a milestone of full employment, citing record levels of job creation and a historic rise in social security contributions as indicators of a robust and expanding economy.
Speaking on Pointe FM, Browne reported that the number of contributors to the Social Security Scheme has surged to 47,000 — the highest in the country’s history.
This comes after the figure had fallen to about 32,000 in the years prior to his administration taking office.
“When we got in, we got it back up to a high of 42,000 before COVID. Then it fell to about 37,000 in 2020 — we lost nearly 5,000 jobs,” Browne said. “We not only recovered the 5,000 jobs, but within the last couple of years we’ve added another 5,000. So you now have 47,000 contributors to social security.”
According to the Prime Minister, the economy is now generating approximately 2,500 jobs per year — a level of growth he described as “significant.”
Browne added that Antigua and Barbuda’s economic strength is drawing workers from across the region.
“I noticed a lot of [people from] St. Vincent coming here now,” he said. “One of them told me that for several months she was walking all over St. Vincent and couldn’t find work. She came here and in one week she got a job.”
He suggested that current levels of unemployment in Antigua and Barbuda are largely voluntary or due to job preferences. “We practically enjoy full employment at this time. People who don’t have any employment right now is because they’re not available to work or they don’t want certain kinds of work,” he said, referencing a reluctance among some job seekers to take up roles in hospitality and security.
On the health of the Social Security Scheme, Browne reported that private sector contributions alone are generating $14 million annually, while obligations total $13 million.
Browne noted that more details about the Social Security Scheme’s future, including its connection to the Jolly Beach redevelopment, will be shared in upcoming discussions.
The Prime Minister’s remarks underscore the administration’s ongoing narrative of economic resilience and recovery following the setbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic.