Dominican Republic women drive job growth in first quarter of 2026

According to the January‑March 2026 Continuous Labor Force Survey released by the Central Bank, women comprised 52.4 % of the labour force, amounting to 2,299,120 employed women – an increase of 1.8 percentage points over the same period in 2025. The majority of employed women worked in services: 32.2 % in other services, 18.9 % in commerce, 12.6 % in hotels, bars and restaurants, and 10.7 % in education, together accounting for almost three‑quarters of female employment.

Women were responsible for the entire net job creation during the quarter, adding 157,078 positions while male employment fell by 38,447, resulting in a net increase of 118,631 jobs. At the end of the period, women represented about 44 % of the occupied population, the highest share recorded since the survey began in 2014. Most female workers (75.5 %) were aged 25‑59; 47.5 % had completed secondary education and 35.6 % held tertiary qualifications. Formal employment was higher among women (51.1 %) than men (41.7 %). The report highlights the continued concentration of female labour in specific service subsectors and calls for policies that broaden occupational opportunities.