Jamaica and the Philippines are the top two nationalities holding active work permits in the British Virgin Islands, according to figures shared by Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley during a recent sitting of the House of Assembly.
As of May 30, 2025, there were 5,913 active work permits recorded in the Labour Management System—5,217 of which were approved, while 696 were awaiting consideration.
The top ten countries with the highest number of work permit holders are:
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Jamaica – 709
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Philippines – 630
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Dominican Republic – 547
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St Vincent and the Grenadines – 522
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United Kingdom – 477
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United States – 389
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Guyana – 374
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South Africa – 153
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Dominica – 151
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St Lucia – 140
Jamaican nationals account for 10.82% of all active work permit holders, followed by Filipinos at 9.38%, Vincentians at 8.58%, and Dominicans (from the Dominican Republic) at 6.85%.
However, Opposition Member Marlon Penn raised concerns about the figures, questioning their reliability. “Based on the numbers and historical information that’s come to this House, that number can’t be accurate in terms of the active work permits,” Penn said. “You’re saying to me that only 5,000 work permits we have in the territory?”
In response, Dr. Wheatley explained that the Labour Department had transitioned to a Labour Management System in July 2024, and acknowledged potential gaps in the data. “We know that there will be businesses in the territory which have not been regularised, which perhaps are having persons working without a work permit,” he stated.
“We’ll go back and query the information to see where the gaps may be and to see if this figure is not accurate, how do we ascertain the true number,” Wheatley added.
Turning to the issue of local employment, the Premier reported that 2,342 Virgin Islanders and Belongers are currently registered in the system seeking work. He cited a skills gap as a contributing factor to local unemployment and pointed to government training programs—such as the RATED initiative—as a solution.
“These are the persons who we want to become our carpenters, our masons, our electricians, our plumbers,” Dr. Wheatley said.
