The Bermuda government says it remains committed to collaborative planning, continued dialogue, and strategic action to ensure that Bermudians are equipped, supported, and positioned to take full advantage of the emerging opportunities across the economy.
Economy and Labour Minister, Jason Hayward, said he is aware of the concerns raised by the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce ,welcoming their continued partnership as British Overseas Territory prepares for the significant opportunities ahead.
Labour and Economy Minister, Jason Hayward
‘While we are encouraged by the progress of the Fairmont Southampton project and look forward to its reopening in 2026, we are mindful of the implications of the labour force demands,’ the government said.
Hayward said the government has long recognised the pressures on Bermuda’s labour supply, ‘which is why we have been actively developing policies and training pathways to prepare Bermudians for emerging opportunities.
‘The progress at Fairmont Southampton is encouraging, and the 700 jobs expected will provide meaningful prospects for our people,’ he added.
Ina lengthy statement earlier this week, the Chamber president, Marico Thomas, said the upcoming reopening of the Southampton Princess Hotel is expected to require approximately 500 employees, followed by another approximately 200 soon after.
‘At a glance, this looks like a hospitality issue. But it’s not. This is a national labour issue and a window into a much larger challenge across Bermuda’s entire economy,’ he said, noting that the roles required won’t just be waiters, chefs, or front desk agents.
Thomas said that nearly every major employment sector will be impacted, and this demand is coming at a time when unemployment is only approximately 1.5 per cent and that an estimated 2.5 per cent of workforce is already non-Bermudian.
‘Our population is shrinking and ageing. Graduating class sizes are too small to fill the pipeline. Bermudians abroad aren’t returning in meaningful numbers. Recruiting from overseas is getting slower and far more difficult ‘.
Thomas question what happens when 700 plus new jobs open up and there are insufficient people?
‘Businesses will start picking each other’s pockets to survive. This creates a predictable chain reaction,’ he said, noting it would create a disruption of service, rising payroll costs, overburdened employees as well as safety and health issues.
He is also predicting a high employee turnover and a brain drain in essential services.
‘This isn’t hypothetical. It’s already happening: Restaurants closing during the week from lack of staff, nurses and police officers working back-to-back overtime shifts, small retailers losing staff to bigger employers and tourists and residents experiencing longer waits and thin service
‘Bermuda has warning signs and they should not be ignored,’ Thomas said, adding that the Employment Brief recently released by government reinforces the concern that the total job growth was 1.8 per cent in 2024, with 94 per cent of those jobs going to non-Bermudians
He said the average wages for Bermudians trailing 21 per cent compared to other non-Bermudians.
He said that the Chamber is calling for ‘serious, open, and constructive dialogue,’ adding ‘this is about immigration, this is about education, this is about housing, productivity, and national planning.
‘This issue may look like hospitality, but it is more, and it is not just Chamber business, it’s everybody’s business,’ Thomas added.
In his statement, Hayward said that from the start, the government has worked closely with the Fairmont team to ensure Bermudians can access opportunities during construction and when the hotel reopens.
‘Through the National Workforce Advisory Board and its Hospitality Sub-Committee, we are taking a coordinated approach to strengthen our talent pipeline. This is a national workforce matter, and we remain committed to ensuring Bermudians are equipped and positioned to thrive.’
The Ministry of Economy and Labour, through the National Workforce Advisory Board, said in anticipation of the hotel re-opening, it established a Hospitality Sub-Committee in August this year to ensure that Bermudians are well-prepared for the broad range of roles that will emerge.
‘The Sub-Committee is actively focused on both immediate and long-term workforce strategies to strengthen the talent pipeline,’ the government said, adding that the current work includes designing and expanding training programmes offered through the Department of Workforce Development to meet industry demand as well as identifying opportunities to enhance and better support the hospitality programme at the Bermuda College.
‘We echo the Chamber’s view that this is more than a hospitality matter; this is a national workforce matter.
‘The Ministry of Economy and Labour remains committed to collaborative planning, continued dialogue, and strategic action to ensure that Bermudians are equipped, supported, and positioned to take full advantage of the emerging opportunities across the economy.’