WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s government personnel costs are projected to rise to approximately XCG 563.6 million in 2027, partly because hundreds of vacancies are being filled across the public sector and critical government services.
Personnel expenses stood at XCG 483.6 million in 2025 and are budgeted at XCG 540.7 million for 2026 before increasing further in 2027.
According to the Budget Memorandum, XCG 59.8 million of the increase is associated with the budgetary impact of 744 positions that have already been filled, mostly during 2026, or remain scheduled to be filled.
The calculation assumes an average gross cost of XCG 80,000 per full-time employee, including approximately 33 percent in employer social contributions.
The government says recruitment is necessary partly because more than 400 civil servants will have reached retirement age between 2024 and 2027.
A total of 244 new employees entered government service in 2024, while another 500 new employees were budgeted for the 2025–2026 period to compensate for departures and strengthen government capacity.
A significant portion of the expansion is concentrated in the justice and enforcement sectors.
According to the budget, 100 vacancies in critical sectors had already been filled by late 2025 and early 2026, while another 200 full-time positions are expected to be added.
The sectors identified include the Curaçao Police Force, Customs, National Investigation Department, Public Prosecutor’s Office, judiciary, Coast Guard, prison system and Security Service.
The government also plans to recruit specialized personnel such as forensic auditors and compliance analysts as Curaçao strengthens its response to recommendations from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force.
The increase means personnel expenditure will remain one of the largest components of Curaçao’s government budget in the coming years.