ILO ranks Jamaica as North America’s hardest-working country
/ Our Today
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According to figures from the International Labour Organization (ILO), Jamaicans work an average of 43.5 hours per week, ranking the country as the hardest working in North America for 2025.
The data include both full and part-time employees as well as self-employed workers, representing projected 2025 values based on the latest information available as of November 2024.
The findings, compiled by World Population Review and the Visual Capitalist, place Jamaica ahead of El Salvador at 43.0 hours and Honduras at 42.8. Bhutan recorded the highest figure globally at 54.5 hours.
The results reveal something powerful about the Jamaican workforce. Work is deeply connected to purpose, perseverance, and creativity.
Across the island, people take on multiple roles to support their families and ambitions. Many balance formal employment with small businesses, online ventures, or community projects. This rhythm of life shows the depth of Jamaica’s collective resilience.
Work as identity
In Jamaica, work carries meaning. It expresses discipline, ingenuity, and self-worth. The phrase “tun yuh han mek fashion” captures how Jamaicans turn limited resources into opportunity through effort and imagination. From teachers adapting with what they have to skilled workers and professionals seeking better ways to deliver value, work is seen as a pathway to growth.
From hours to impact
The next stage of progress will depend on how efficiently these hours are used. The focus is shifting from the quantity of work to the quality of what is produced.
Research from the Caribbean AI Research Lab, Section 9, shows that caribbeans can save up to five hours each week when AI tools are used correctly.
Adrian Dunkley, lead AI scientist for Section 9, explains, “AI is transforming how we work. It allows us to maintain or reduce our effort while increasing our efficiency. When used well, it turns time saved into value created.”
This shift invites reflection. Do we need to work these hours? Or can we achieve more with the same effort? The answer may define how the next generation experiences work in Jamaica.
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