Chamber President Highlights Jobs Challenge
The reopening of the Southampton Princess Hotel will require approximately 500 employees which is a national labour issue, the President of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce said.
Mr. Marico Thomas Statement
Mr 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.
“Why? Because the roles required won’t just be waiters, chefs, or front desk agents. They will include:
- Landscaping crews, IT support, and accountants
- Massage therapists, nail technicians, and barbers
- Valets, dishwashers, bakers, warehouse workers
- Transport providers, porters, and supervisors.
“Nearly every major employment sector will be impacted, and this demand is coming at a time when:
- Unemployment is only approximately 1.5%
- About 25% of our 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
“So what happens when 700+ 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:
- Disruption of service
- Rising payroll costs
- Overburdened employees
- Safety and Health issues
- High employee turnover
- 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
- Tourists and residents experiencing longer waits and thin service
“Bermuda has warning signs and they should not be ignored. The Employment Brief recently released by Government reinforces the concern:
- Total job growth: +1.8% in 2024
- But 94% of those jobs went to non-Bermudians
- Bermudian job growth: only +0.1% [just 18 new jobs]
- Average wages for Bermudians trailing 21% compared to other non-Bermudians
“Another recently release from the Government is the Revised Work Permit Policy. The Chamber commends Government for the reforms, which:
- Increase employer accountability
- Strengthen recruitment transparency
- Allow ministerial discretion for critical industries
- Introduce penalties for non-compliance
“But while these are solid improvements, they don’t yet address the real challenge which is simply that Bermuda needs more persons in the workforce.
It’s about facing facts—and getting ready. If we don’t act:
- Essential services will break down
- Productivity gains will stall
- Our young people will inherit instability, not opportunity
“The Chamber is calling for serious, open, and constructive dialogue.
“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.”
Ministry of Economy and Labour Statement
A Government spokesperson said, “The Ministry of Economy and Labour thanks the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce for highlighting such an important issue. We welcome their continued partnership as Bermuda prepares for the significant opportunities ahead. 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.”
Minister Jason Hayward said, “I thank the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce for raising this important national issue. The Ministry 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. From the start, we have 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.”
A Government spokesperson added, “In anticipation of the hotel’s reopening, the Ministry of Economy and Labour, through the National Workforce Advisory Board, established a Hospitality Sub-Committee in August 2025 to ensure that Bermudians are well-prepared for the broad range of roles that will emerge. This Sub-Committee comprises representatives from the Department of Workforce Development. Bermuda College, Bermuda Hotel Association, Chamber of Commerce [represented by Ms. Jennifer Woods], the Department of Education, and a cross-section of hospitality professionals.
“The Sub-Committee is actively focused on both immediate and long-term workforce strategies to strengthen the talent pipeline.
“Current work includes:
- “Designing and expanding training programmes offered through the Department of Workforce Development to meet industry demand;
- “Identifying opportunities to enhance and better support the hospitality programme at the Bermuda College;
- “Mapping skills gaps and developing targeted upskilling pathways for Bermudians across all levels of the hospitality sector.
“In addition to the work being done through the Department of Workforce Development, the Ministry of Economy and Labour has been publicly engaged in this conversation for some time. Through several recent position papers and strategic documents, including the Consultation on Retaining the Local Workforce [2024] and Addressing the Challenge of an Ageing Population in Bermuda [2022], as well as ongoing Labour Force Survey reports, the Ministry has highlighted the urgent demographic and labour supply pressures facing Bermuda.
“These papers outline the increasing reliance on non-Bermudian labour, the ageing workforce, and the need for expanded talent pipelines across all sectors. They also set out a series of policy directions focused on increasing workforce participation, strengthening skills development, modernising training pathways, and ensuring Bermuda has the human-capital capacity required to sustain economic growth. The Ministry’s strategic work in this area reinforces the importance of collaboration and long-term planning as we prepare Bermudians for the opportunities ahead.
“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.”
Solution: Reduce the size of the civil service. Perhaps.
The data from the Chamber clearly shows how he PLP have driven Bermuda to an economic nightmare. confirmed by the word salad response from Hayward.
The growth of IB has increased rents and reduced housing availability for Bermudians in local employment. Hospitality has no one available and so Bermuda has to import more foreigners. None of this benefits Bermudians, yet the PLP manage to convince enough to vote to continue this destruction.
I am going to come to the defence of Jason Hayward. I do not think his comments are mere “word salad”. I believe he was doing the best he could. He has demonstrated time and again that he hasn’t the faintest grasp of any fundamentals of economics.
Growth of international business has not increased rents. Landlords increased the rent. the lack of hosing due to people owning too many properties and using them for Air BNB has contributed to this also.
Tackle both those things by reducing quantity of properties that can be owned by greedy Bermudians and get rid of Air BNB from Bermuda.
Make Bermuda affordable then Bermudians will return from overseas.
Housing. Then buy 4 more while you cruise have a big car think nothing of having fancy parties and going out. My hard sacrifice and use of a bike,then a second hand car was my hard earned dream that I shared with friends who had no interest. Now l8ke you they have regrets. You followed your dreams and so did many of us.. Lots of advice was given and obviously ignored by you and many know it all Bermudians.a tough lesson when you think if theopportunoties you and many heard about but ignored. Yes. You could have done something like I did and a few friends who listened and acted.
Life would be easier for “hmmm” if the government would take homes from the “haves” and give them to the “have nots”. That would create a “fairer Bermuda”.
JOE Bloggs They may be coming for you next .
There is no shortage of bedrooms. Never was, . The young just do not want their activities in control of their parents. Alternately their parents may have told them time has come to go . This happens to young people in their 30 ‘s, they are not mothers little boy any more . Now to know this could be where the one hundred mill went.
May be if out young went to see how others have to survive they would not have to be so picky.
There is no free lunch any more.
I knew My father wanted me to leave as his father did before him, with the exception, I beat him to it at the age of 21 i was out the door with my pleasant good bye. I had two jobs to be able to make it . No different than as it is to day ,and a bike to get to work that day. No body did me any favours or hand outs. The Goverment just got a slap in the face for all their efforts
I agree with you, Pac Man. Most young people these days do not want to sacrifice luxury like we did. They want things given to them.
Truth be told, it is my belief, Airbnbs have increased in popularity because it eliminates having to deal with dreadful tenants.
Even without Airbnb, many landlords would rather keep their properties vacant then rent to certain individuals and that is their right.
And note, just as the Banks continue to increase interest rates and the cost of living continues to rise, then so will rents.
The Government’s response (“I thank the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce for raising this important national issue”) only confirms the Government’s complete lack of understanding of economics