Virgin Islands Adds 22 Private Jobs in Q1
Gross job gains of 1,747 were nearly offset by 1,725 losses in the territory's private sector from December 2025 to March 2026.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Employment
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U.S. Virgin Islands private employers added a net 22 jobs in the first quarter of 2026, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Gross gains of 1,747 jobs were offset by 1,725 job losses between December 2025 and March 2026.
Why it matters
The near-balance between hiring and job losses in the territory signals a flat labor market, following a net gain of 659 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2025. Readers tracking employment trends can compare the territory's churn rate against national figures.
Gross job gains of 1,747 in the U.S. Virgin Islands equaled 7.3 percent of private employment, above the national gross gain rate of 5.5 percent. Existing businesses added 1,053 jobs while new establishments contributed 694, and the data does not show what caused the slowdown in net growth.
The players
Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is the principal federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity and working conditions in the United States.
The details
Private employers opened and expanded businesses to generate gross gains, while closing and contracting establishments eliminated 1,725 positions over the same three-month window. Existing businesses added 1,053 jobs and new establishments added 694 in the first quarter.
Timeline
Q4 2025: Net private-sector gain of 659 jobs
December 2025 to March 2026: Gross gains of 1,747 offset by 1,725 losses
Thursday, November 5, 2026: BLS released the federal economic figures
Roadmap
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Business Employment Dynamics series tracks gross job gains and losses quarterly across geographies, allowing comparisons between the territory and national figures. The Q1 2026 release adds one more data point to that record of private-sector hiring and separations.
Job seekers in the U.S. Virgin Islands face a labor market where hiring roughly matches separations, limiting net opportunity growth. Readers comparing local and national conditions can use the 5.5 percent national gross gain rate as a reference point.
The takeaway
A near-flat net job figure can mask heavy turnover, so both gross gains and losses matter when judging a local labor market. Compare territory figures against national benchmarks before drawing conclusions about job security.
Further reading
Track broader hiring shifts in the Employment section of our economics coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Vifreepress.
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