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More Jamaicans Participating in Overseas Employment Programme
🇯🇲 Jamaica /Economy & Trade

More Jamaicans Participating in Overseas Employment Programme

From Jamaica Observer · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Documents & data Context piece
  • The number of Jamaicans participating in the Overseas Employment Programme increased by 4.8% in 2025 to 15,169, according to the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ).
  • While US Farm Work and Canadian Low Skilled Worker programs saw reductions, most other programs experienced growth.
  • Canadian programs accounted for the majority of participants (61.7%), with the Canadian Farm & Factory Work Programme seeing a 7.4% increase.

Jamaica's Overseas Employment Programme saw a 4.8% increase in participation in 2025, with 15,169 Jamaicans taking part, according to the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ). This primary labor migration initiative places qualified Jamaicans in jobs in the United States and Canada.

This was driven by an increase in the number of participants in the US Hospitality Programme by 16.2 per cent to 1,236 persons, reflecting the positive results of intensified marketing and greater outreach to employers.

— Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ)Explaining the growth in US hospitality program participation.

The PIOJ's 2025 Economic and Social Survey Jamaica indicates that while the US Farm Work Programme and the Canadian Low Skilled Worker Programme registered decreases, most other programs experienced growth. The combined number of participants in US programs rose by 1.7% to 5,810. This growth was primarily driven by a 16.2% increase in the US Hospitality Programme, attributed to intensified marketing and employer outreach.

Conversely, the US Farm Work Programme saw a 1.6% decline in participants, totaling 4,574. This reduction is linked to economic challenges faced by some agricultural employers, leading to workforce downsizing, and a decrease in male participants. The PIOJ noted that competition from non-traditional labor supply countries also impacted the Canadian Low Skilled Worker Programme, which saw a 2.4% decrease in participants.

The reduction in participants can be attributed to economic challenges faced by some agricultural employers, which resulted in the downsizing of their workforce.

— Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ)Explaining the decline in the US Farm Work Programme.

Participation in Canadian programs overall increased by 6.9% to 9,359, maintaining their majority share of 61.7% of all overseas placements. The Canadian Farm & Factory Work Programme grew by 7.4% to 8,877, boosted by a rebound in British Columbia's cherry season and the onboarding of new employers. The number of female participants in the Overseas Employment Programme also increased significantly by 18.2% to 1,150, although males still constitute the majority.

Competition from non-traditional labour supply countries contributed to the reduction of participants in the Canadian Low Skilled Worker Programme.

— Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ)Explaining the decrease in the Canadian Low Skilled Worker Programme.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jamaica Observer in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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