By Jolene Toves
For Variety
HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Guam’s overall employment rate has increased over the past year, but according to the data, the primary driving force isn’t the federal or local government.
The latest labor data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Plans’ March 2026 Employment Statistics report shows the largest gains came from the private sector, which reported 53,010 employed workers compared to 51,900 in March 2025.
Overall, the increase of 1,110 private-sector employees represents a 2.1% year-over-year growth rate.
The March 2026 preliminary statistics highlight 150 more jobs over the latest quarter and an increase of 790 over the past year.
“The private sector expanded while the government sector contracted. Private sector employment increase by 210 this quarter and 1,110 in the latest year. The greatest private-sector employment gains over the quarter were 380 in Construction,” the March 2026 report states.
The gains in the construction industry were tied to H-2 workers. Post files show that in March 2026, reliance on foreign skilled workers reached a record high of 6,000 H-2B workers, a first in more than 30 years.
At the time, GDOL said the milestone reflected the “unprecedented demand for labor driven largely by the military buildup and major construction projects.”
Noting a 9.9% increase in visitor arrivals, the report said employment in the hotel industry increased by 130 year over year, while average weekly hours worked increased from 33.2 to 34.9, along with corresponding increases in average weekly earnings.
In general, the report shows wages across the board rose.
“Compared with March 2025, private nonsupervisory average hourly earnings for all industries increased from $18.71 to $19.10, average weekly hours paid increased from 37.8 to 38.4, and average weekly earnings increased from $707.16 to $734.15,” the report states.
GovGuam average weekly earnings rose to $1,379.80, up 4.6% year over year despite being down from the peak earnings of $1,402 recorded in December 2025.
“We are seeing solid job growth in the private sector, rising hours and wages in key industries like hospitality, and a low, stable unemployment rate. Our focus now is to build on this momentum — expanding training and apprenticeship opportunities, helping employers fill critical positions, and ensuring more residents can access good jobs and long-term careers,” Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio said in a release from the Guam Department of Labor.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero echoed those sentiments, crediting the gains to the administration’s focus on expanding apprenticeships and job training.
“People who want to work are returning to the workforce or enrolling in the programs we offer. This is the model we have been advancing for years,” Leon Guerrero said in the GDOL release.
Acting GDOL Director Gerard Toves believes greater stability will be seen as more residents return to work.
“This is the kind of growth we want to encourage and build on,” he said. “These numbers show that we are delivering on our priority: putting people back to work.”
Both federal government and GovGuam employment levels declined over the past year, with 3,870 employed by the federal government compared to 4,010 a year earlier. GovGuam employment dropped from 11,890 in March 2025 to 11,710 in March 2026.
“Both declined measurably over the year, 140 and 180 jobs, respectively, totaling a government employment decline of 320 jobs,” the report states.
Despite government-sector job losses, Guam’s unemployment rate in March 2026 remained relatively steady, increasing 0.3 percentage points to 3.4% from 3.1% in March 2025.
“The total number of persons unemployed in March 2026 was 2,500, up from the previous quarter but virtually identical to the March 2025 figure. The March 2026 statistics continue the general trend of relatively low and steady unemployment rates in recent quarters,” the Unemployment Situation report states. “The March 2026 unemployment rate and the number of unemployed persons were unchanged since March 2025; however, the number of persons who were out of the labor force declined compared with March 2025.”
