Two in three Bonaire residents work

In 2010, 10.7 thousand people aged 15 years or older lived on Bonaire; 7.1 thousand of them had a job, which puts the labour participation rate for the island at 66.6 percent.

Unemployment below 7 percent

Just over 500 people on Bonaire were unemployed in 2010. This is an unemployment rate of 6.6 percent. Moreover 3.1 thousand were not active on the labour market.

Population of Bonaire aged 15 years and older by labour position, 2010

Trade, transport, hotels and restaurants main employer

More than three in ten people with a job - 2.2 thousand - worked in the sector trade, transport, hotels and restaurants. This sector accounts for substantially fewer workers in the Netherlands: just over two in ten. The second largest employment sector on Bonaire is government and care, with nearly 1.7 thousand employees.

Labour participation higher for men than for women

Male labour participation rates were significantly higher than those for women, 71.8 versus 61.2 percent. With respect to unemployment, on the other hand, the rates were similar for the two sexes. For men it was 6.5 percent, for women 6.7 percent.

Bonaire, net labour participation, unemployment and non-activity by sex, 2010

Unemployment higher for young people

Unemployment in the age group 15-24 year-olds was 12.8 percent in 2010. This is the equivalent of 100 young people. This rate is substantially higher than the rates for people in older age groups, which were around 5 to 6 percent. Relatively many young people are not active on the labour market, mainly because they are still in education. Over four in ten young people are active on the labour market.

Bonaire, net labour participation, unemployment and non-activity by age, 2010

Maico Hoksbergen and Lian Kösters