Growth in jobs and earnings, says President

Guyana has seen strong growth in jobs and earnings across multiple sectors, with unemployment falling sharply in recent years, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali said on Tuesday, countering criticism of the country’s labour market.
Citing official statistics, Ali said total employment rose by more than 100,000 between the first quarter of 2020 and the fourth quarter of 2024, increasing from around 264,000 to nearly 370,000 people.

He also highlighted wage growth across sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, construction, wholesale and retail trade, information and communication, professional services, health, and arts and entertainment.
Unemployment declined from 12.8 per cent in 2020 to 6.8 per cent by the end of 2024, with female unemployment falling from 14.4 per cent to below 9 per cent, reflecting gains in both urban and rural areas, he said.

The President pointed to international studies indicating that Guyana now faces labour shortages, with up to 160,000 additional workers needed in the medium term to sustain economic growth. He urged citizens not to be misled by what he described as politically motivated narratives, stressing that a diversified economy is creating jobs, raising incomes, and expanding opportunities nationwide.

Ali attributed the gains to government policies supporting infrastructure development, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and agro-processing, emphasising that job growth extends beyond the oil and gas sector.