A Growing Workforce in Belize: Opportunities for Hiring, Recruitment & EOR in 2025
For companies, entrepreneurs, and investors looking for opportunities in an often-overlooked market, the conditions might be right for them to consider company formation in Belize. Understanding the hiring trends in Belize allows you to understand why it’s a hot destination for internationally minded companies. Businesses looking to hire employees in Belize must consider compliance regulations, recruitment strategies, and local talent availability.
Key takeaways on hiring trends in Belize
| What are the key sectors in Belize? | Belize’s key economic sectors are tourism and agriculture |
| Steps to hiring in Belize | A local advisor can help you with: Job adverts Networking CV assessment Interviewing Contract writing Onboarding |
| Is PEO legal in Belize? | Yes, it is legal to work with PEO providers to outsource HR and payroll functions in Belize. |
| What is the minimum wage in Belize? | The minimum wage in Belize is BZD$5.00 per hour from January 1, 2025. |
| What are the employer contributions in Belize? | Social Security contributions for employers are equivalent to 8% of the employee’s gross salary, up to a maximum of BZD$720 per month. |
How much it costs to hire people in Belize
The cost of hiring in Belize is less than it would be in richer nations, yet workers are often well qualified and skilled. The minimum wage in Belize is BZD$5.00 per hour from January 1, 2025. However, this is not necessarily the rate that you should be offering. In top sectors that require qualified and skilled workers, you will need to offer at least market standard rate. A local hiring expert in Belize will be invaluable in making sure that you are not overpaying or offering unattractive rates that make it hard to recruit quality talent.
Employers must make monthly contributions to the Social Security Board (SSB). Social Security contributions for employers are equivalent to 8% of the employee’s gross salary, up to a maximum of BZD$720 per month.
Key sectors for hiring in Belize
Belize’s key economic sectors—tourism and agriculture—continue to grow, offering clear opportunities for investment in hotels, tour operations, sustainable farming, and agribusiness. Workers are available in Belize at highly competitive rates, meaning that labor for manual or other general work is very affordable.
For more skilled workers, salaries are still extremely competitive, and significantly lower than in the United States or Europe, with a software engineer or sales manager generally earning less than USD$45,000 per year.
The government of Belize actively encourages foreign investment through a range of incentives, particularly in the tourism and agriculture sectors.
In fact, the government of Belize has identified the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector as a major opportunity for economic growth in the country, with BPO including a wide range of back office and professional support services.
Furthermore, in most cases, foreigners who live or bank in Belize will generally not have to pay tax on any income made outside the country. Funds placed in trusts also enjoy tax exemptions, as do estates when passed to heirs or beneficiaries.
Two options for hiring: establish a company or PEO
When entering the market and hiring in Belize, there are essentially two options available to investors and entrepreneurs. The most common way of doing so is through full company formation to establish a presence in the jurisdiction. However, this may take time and effort, meaning that it is worth considering another option as well, using a Professional Employer Organization (PEO).
PEO: fast and agile
A Professional Employer Organization (PEO), also known as a ‘Registered Employer’ or ‘Employer of Record’, is an organization that provides and supports companies with their human resources functions, from the early stages of recruitment to the payment of taxes and benefits. PEOs undertake the fundamental and time-consuming tasks of human resources teams, allowing companies to focus on the growth and success of their business.
The services of a PEO are particularly useful when businesses seek to hire a local workforce but do not wish to establish a local legal entity. Simply put, a PEO makes it easy to hire staff in Belize through an outsourced provider. It means you can enter the market and start hiring quickly, without having to commit to full entry until you are sure that it is what you want to do. It is worth noting that regionally there is beginning to be more regulation and PEO in Belize may not be viable in the future.
The long-term option: direct hiring
This is the gold standard of hiring in Belize, as it will give you full control over your employees as well as being sure that you will be compliant for the long term. It also gives you a higher status with potential job applicants, who will see you as a more secure long-term employer.
Before you start hiring employees in Belize, you will first need to get a sense of the legal, financial and cultural lay of the land. Things such as how to sort out the red tape associated with incorporation and how to manage payroll, for example. With a permanent legal presence in Belize, you will be fully liable for compliance with local law.
A local expert will help when hiring in Belize, as they will have an extensive network of qualified professionals for top jobs as well as a good idea of the local labor market. They will be able to advise on the best rates to offer and what type of profile you should be targeting. With anti-discrimination legislation important in Belize, especially for top jobs, they can make sure you are making a fair offer which complies with local law.
After placing adverts and receiving applications, you will want to move towards interviewing potential candidates. This should be done by both a team manager and HR representative at minimum, to make sure that everything is watertight in legal terms. You may want to include other people into the process in order to make a better assessment of the candidate.
It is entirely possible that you may wish to have a second interview, possibly involving other team members as discussed above. It is also common in the region and when hiring in Belize to provide candidates with an aptitude task to be completed. This usually takes the form of a dummy task that simulates the type of job that will be done in the future and confirm that they possess the skills cited on their CV.
Contracts, too, will be important. A local advisor will be up to speed on what you can and cannot offer. Bear in mind that you will have to follow all the rules established by Belize. In Belize, this includes clear conditions for the termination of a fixed-term or project-based contract.
Finally, your local advisor will be able to help you with the stages of both the hiring and onboarding process. They will make sure that you comply with standard requirements such as compulsory medical checks and make sure that any probation period is within the boundaries of those established by the labor law in Belize. This is generally two months.
Labor laws and regulations in Belize
The foundation of Belize’s labor laws can be traced back to its colonial past, with influences from British common law and subsequent legislative developments post-independence. Over the years, these laws have changed to address the growing needs of the labor force and to align with international standards and conventions.
One of the landmark legislations in Belize’s labor history is the Labour Act of 2000, which consolidated and modernized various labor laws into a comprehensive framework. This Act and the later amendments form the backbone of Belize’s labor regulatory regime, encompassing broad employment-related matters.
- Work hours – The standard workday in Belize is eight hours, with the standard workweek up to 45 hours.
- Public holidays – There are 14 public holidays in Belize each year.
- Vacation time – Workers in Belize are eligible for 10 days of vacation annually, with a further 5 after five years- service. Women are entitled to 14 weeks’ maternity leave.
- Contract types – There are essentially two types of contract in Belize, indefinite employment and fixed-term employment.
FAQs on hiring trends in Belize
Based on our extensive experience these are the common questions we receive from clients when looking to hire in Belize.
1. Why hire talent in Belize?
If you’re one of those types of business owners and/or investors who can look at Belize and see a diamond in the rough, then setting up shop in the jurisdiction might be right for you – in 2025 and beyond.
2. Can I hire top talent in Belize?
Yes, absolutely. Belize has a number of strong cards to play in terms of talent:
- A hard-working, industrious workforce
- A growing talent pool of young, enthusiastic workers
- World-class technical/skilled trade schools
- Government assistance for on-the-job training
- Good employer-employee relationships
3. What is the level of English for professionals in Belize?
English is the first language of the country, with many workers also competent or fluent in Spanish thanks to neighbouring countries.
4. Can I hire employees in Belize without incorporating a company?
Yes. Using an Employer of Record in Belize allows you to legally hire employees without setting up a local entity. This approach ensures compliance and simplifies market entry.
5. What are the downsides of using an EOR in Belize?
Although EORs are fast and convenient, they tend to be more costly per employee and may be less appealing to senior-level candidates. Prolonged use may also expose your business to permanent establishment risks.
6. When should I set up a company in Belize instead of using an EOR?
If you’re planning a long-term operation or hiring multiple employees, setting up a company in Belize is often more cost-effective and better suited to building local operations and culture.
Biz Latin Hub can help you with hiring trends in Belize
At Biz Latin Hub, we provide integrated market entry and back-office services throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, with offices across the region. We also have trusted partners in many other markets.
Our unrivaled reach means we are ideally placed to support multi-jurisdiction market entries and cross border operations.
As well as knowledge about hiring trends in Belize, our portfolio of services includes hiring & PEO accounting & taxation, company formation, and corporate legal services.
Contact us today to find out more about how we can assist you in finding talent, or otherwise do business in Latin America and the Caribbean.
If this article on hiring trends in Belize was of interest to you, check out the rest of our coverage of the region. Or read about our team and expert authors.
