HAGÅTÑA, Guam — Guam recorded a substantial expansion in total employment with a net increase of 790 jobs in March 2026 compared to March 2025, propelled by strong gains within the private sector despite minor contractions in public payrolls.
According to the latest Current Employment Report issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, private sector employment surged by 1,110 jobs year-over-year. Conversely, the government of Guam saw an employment decrease of 180 jobs, contributing to an overall public sector loss of 320 jobs over the same 12-month period.
The island's unemployment rate held steady and remained unchanged at 3.4% over the year, representing a total of 2,500 unemployed individuals in March 2026. Concurrently, the number of persons classified as out of the labor force declined relative to March 2025 figures. Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero attributed the labor market improvements to the administration's ongoing workforce initiatives. "Our programs that focus on expanding apprenticeships and job training are working," Leon Guerrero said.
The hospitality industry demonstrated notable growth, with hotel payrolls increasing by 130 jobs over the year. Alongside job growth, the hotel industry's average weekly hours worked expanded from 33.2 to 34.9 hours. This uptick in operational hours drove an increase in average weekly earnings for hospitality employees, which rose by $18.16, climbing from $394.06 to $412.22.
Lt. Gov Joshua F. Tenorio noted that the current administrative focus is to build on this momentum by expanding apprenticeship opportunities, assisting employers with critical job openings, and ensuring residents can access long-term careers.
Gerard A. Toves, acting director of the Guam Department of Labor, emphasized the broader economic stability visible across the territory's workforce data. "As more residents return to work and we see greater stability, we are also seeing improvements in both hours and wages," Toves said, adding that the latest metrics demonstrate that the department is delivering on its priority of putting people back to work. mbj
