Sint Maarten launches the 2026 Labour Force Survey to produce an up-to-date unemployment rate

Sint Maarten's Department of Statistics (STAT) has launched its 2026 Labour Force Survey (LFS), with data collection scheduled from July to September 2026. This household sample survey aims to generate updated official statistics for the country's unemployment rate, labour-force participation, and overall employment figures. The 2026 LFS is the first comprehensive survey of its kind since 2018. Previous biennial rounds were either canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic or postponed because of staffing and budgetary constraints. While the 2022 Population and Housing Census provided some labour market data, STAT now has the resources to conduct the LFS, re-establishing its regular cycle.