Working Paper Series: Special Edition of 2016 to 2018 Interns

On average, Saint Lucia’s labour force participation rate has been comparatively higher than that of developed countries and regions like the United States of America and Western Europe (Figure 2). In 2014, labour force participation was 71.9 per cent in Saint Lucia, higher than the estimated global average of 63.5 per cent in the same year. It was also higher than the estimated Latin American and Caribbean region at 66.5 per cent, the USA and the OECD, which had average estimated participation rates of 62.4 per cent and 59.6 per cent, respectively. The high rate of participation in the labour force is perhaps indicative of the absence of social safety nets including the lack of unemployment insurance. Global LAC OECD U.S. Saint Lucia 63.5 66.5 59.6 62.4 71.9 Figure 2: Labour Force Participation Rate, Regional Comparison Source: World Bank Data (ILO modeled estimate, 2014)

Historically, males have been more involved in the labour market with an average participation rate of 76.1 per cent, compared with 61.9 per cent for women ( Figure 3 ). This may be attributable mostly to traditionally defined gender roles, which presume that females are the homemakers while males are the breadwinners.

Figure 3: Labour Force Participation by Gender

0 20 40 60 80

female male

Source: World Bank Data (ILO modelled estimate)

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