According to the Survey of Employment and Earnings in Large Establishments for March 2026, released by the Mauritius statistics office, employment in large establishments rose to 309,681. This represents an increase of 495 from the 309,186 recorded in March 2025. The growth in employment was driven by various sectors, with some experiencing notable increases.
The survey revealed that the main changes in employment were registered in several industry groups. Administrative and support service activities saw an increase of 1,306, while accommodation and food services recorded a growth of 845. Additionally, financial and insurance activities, as well as information and communication, experienced increases of 580 and 376, respectively. However, public administration and defence; compulsory social security witnessed a decline of 2,223.
A closer look at the sectoral breakdown shows that employment in the General Government Sector decreased by 2,513 from 82,150 in March 2025 to 79,637 in March 2026. In contrast, employment in large Export Oriented Enterprises (EOE) declined by 1,835 from 29,259 in March 2024 to 27,424 in March 2026. These changes reflect shifts in the labour market dynamics.
The survey also highlighted changes in the workforce composition. The number of foreign workers increased by 1,213 from 28,157 in March 2025 to 29,370 in March 2026. This growth in foreign workers is a notable trend in the labour market. The changes in employment and workforce composition have implications for the economy.
In terms of earnings, the overall average monthly earnings in large establishments increased by 6.2% from Rs 43,511 in March 2025 to Rs 46,229 in March 2026. This growth in earnings is a positive trend for workers. The highest increases were registered in the ‘Information and communication’ sector, with a significant rise of 38.4%, and ‘Human health and social work activities’, which saw a growth of 28.2%.
The survey also reported that average monthly earnings in large establishments of the EOE sector increased by 13.1% from Rs 30,052 to Rs 33,990. This substantial growth in earnings in the EOE sector is noteworthy. The changes in earnings reflect shifts in the labour market and economic conditions.
The Survey of Employment and Earnings in Large Establishments provides valuable insights into the labour market trends in Mauritius. The data highlights growth in employment, changes in sectoral composition, and increases in earnings. These trends have implications for policymakers, businesses, and workers.
Key points
- Employment in large establishments in Mauritius increased by 495 from March 2025 to March 2026.
- The overall average monthly earnings in large establishments increased by 6.2% from March 2025 to March 2026.
- The number of foreign workers increased by 1,213 from March 2025 to March 2026.
