Skilled Labour Force
Diverse, Skilled, and Investor-Friendly
Workforce Overview
Belize’s workforce is young, diverse, and multilingual, with competitive labour costs and robust training opportunities. The government facilitates investment-friendly policies and knowledge transfer programs.
Key Workforce Facts
Diverse & Multilingual
Official language is English, followed by Spanish and other native languages. 60% of the population is bilingual (SIB).
Population & Labour Force
Total population: 441,471 (2022). Young, vibrant labour force: 191,728. Unemployment: 5% (SIB).
Competitive Labour Costs
Minimum wage: BZD $5.00 / USD $2.50 per hour, offering cost-effective talent for businesses.
Education & Training
19 tertiary & 62 secondary institutions, with technical/vocational programs via ITVET and BTEC subsidies (BELTRAIDE).
Labour Force Insights
Labour Force by Age
Belize’s young and dynamic workforce ranges from ages 20 to 34 (SIB).
Labour Force Distribution
Distribution across sectors and regions for employment planning.
Temporary Employment Permit (TEP)
Online TEP Application
Belize’s investor-friendly work permit regime allows skilled foreign labour during initial development, with knowledge transfer programs. Applications must be submitted online by employers.
To complete your Employer’s profile on the online system, the following applicable documents must be submitted. Please ensure all documents are in English (with accompanying certified translations if originals are not in English) and are in PDF, ZIP, PNG, JPG, or JPEG format, with a maximum size of 10MB per document.
Who Can Apply
Both Belizean and foreign employers (companies or self-employed) can submit TEP applications on behalf of prospective employees.
A company or business is defined as one of the following:
- Limited Liability
- Sole Owner
- Partnership
- Overseas
- Diplomatic Agencies
- Not for Profit
- Educational
- NGO
A self-employed Belizean can apply for a temporary employment permit for a foreigner they wish to hire.
Required Documents (Companies)
- Articles of Association
- Memorandum of Association
- Certificate of Good Standing
- Certificate of Registration
- Trade License (if operating in city/town)
- Business Plan (new businesses)
- Local Bank Statement (6 months)
- Income Tax Certificate (TIN)
Required Documents (Self-Employed Foreigners)
- Business Plan
- Local Bank Statement (6 months)
- Land Title/Lease
- Updated Land Payment Receipt
Favorable Trade & Taxation Treaties
Capitalize on Belize's extensive network of international agreements, including Multiple Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs), and various Trade Agreements with key partners such as the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and Central America. These agreements facilitate trade and protect investments.
Stable & Supportive Environment
perate within one of Central America's most stable political, social, and business environments. The Government of Belize actively supports investment in priority industry sectors, ensuring a conducive climate for growth and long-term success.
Please Note:
The Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour, and Local Government’s Employment Unit facilitates connections between employers and job seekers. The Employment Services System (ESS), a computerized system, captures employer vacancy information and matches it with job seeker education, experience, and skills to generate candidate lists for specific jobs. The ESS also generates statistics and predefined reports, categorized by demographics, geographic location, industry, and job type.
Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour, and Local Government
#5163 University Blvd
City of Belmopan
501-822-2679
info@labour.gov.bz