Chinese Nationals Received Most Jamaican Work Permits Issued in 2025, PIOJ Data Show

Chinese nationals once more accounted for the largest share of work permits granted to foreigners by Jamaica's Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) during 2025, continuing a pattern seen year after year.

The figures appear in the 2025 edition of the Economic and Social Survey Jamaica, which the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) publishes annually. Nationals of China collected 2,441 permits, well ahead of India at 882 and Cuba at 307.

Anyone from overseas seeking employment on the island must first seek approval from the MLSS, a requirement set out in the Foreign Nationals and Commonwealth Citizens (Employment) Act, 1964.

The PIOJ reported that 5,701 applications reached the ministry over the calendar year, 0.9 per cent more than in 2024. Renewals made up 2,972 of that total, down 3.5 per cent from the previous year, while first-time requests climbed 6.1 per cent to 2,729.

“The majority of work permit applications – 96.6 per cent or 5,509 – were approved, with 79.3 per cent issued to males,” said the planning institute.

Approvals stayed clustered in a handful of sectors. Wholesale and retail trade along with the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles took 2,258, construction accounted for 1,120, and accommodation and food service activities received 607.

By region, applicants from Asia secured the biggest portion of approved permits at 64.9 per cent, with Latin America second on 13.5 per cent.