CASTRIES, St Lucia — St Lucia services sector slump is intensifying, with Professional, Technical & Scientific Services falling 15.7% year over year, the steepest decline across all industries, according to a data-driven study released April 29, 2026.
The report, produced by Briefcase PR using Quarterly Gross Domestic Product (QGDP) data from the Central Statistical Office, highlights a widening divide in the economy, where several large and established sectors are contracting even as smaller industries expand at a faster pace.
The findings raise fresh questions about recent St Lucia economic growth claims, as several of the island’s largest industries continue to contract despite gains in smaller sectors.
Professional services drive St Lucia services sector slump
Professional, Technical & Scientific Services declined from EC$14.0 million in Q2 2024 to EC$11.8 million in Q2 2025, placing it at the top of the fastest-declining industries.
Bananas followed with an 11.3% drop, falling from EC$5.3 million to EC$4.7 million, continuing a downward trend in agricultural output.
Mining & Quarrying and Construction were tied for third, each declining 9.1%. Mining & Quarrying slipped from EC$1.1 million to EC$1.0 million, while Construction saw a larger absolute drop from EC$79.2 million to EC$72.0 million, signaling contraction in a key economic pillar.
Accommodation, one of St Lucia’s largest contributors to GDP, ranked fourth with an 8.0% decline, falling from EC$315.4 million to EC$290.2 million, a shift that may reflect broader pressures within the tourism sector.
Wholesale & Retail Trade, another major sector, declined 5.7%, moving from EC$170.7 million to EC$161.0 million.
Domestic Services ranked sixth, declining 5.6% from EC$1.8 million to EC$1.7 million.
Supporting & Auxiliary Transport Activities and Travel Agents & Tour Operators were tied for seventh, each recording a 3.8% contraction. Supporting & Auxiliary Transport Activities fell from EC$18.3 million to EC$17.6 million, while Travel Agents & Tour Operators declined from EC$18.5 million to EC$17.8 million.
Road Transport ranked eighth, slipping 2.8% from EC$39.6 million to EC$38.5 million.
Full breakdown: 10 fastest-declining industries
The study ranked industries by percentage decline in QGDP at constant prices using a dense ranking system:
- #1 Professional, Technical & Scientific Services: EC$14.0M → EC$11.8M (-15.7%)
- #2 Bananas: EC$5.3M → EC$4.7M (-11.3%)
- #3 Mining & Quarrying: EC$1.1M → EC$1.0M (-9.1%)
- #3 Construction: EC$79.2M → EC$72.0M (-9.1%)
- #4 Accommodation: EC$315.4M → EC$290.2M (-8.0%)
- #5 Wholesale & Retail Trade: EC$170.7M → EC$161.0M (-5.7%)
- #6 Domestic Services: EC$1.8M → EC$1.7M (-5.6%)
- #7 Supporting & Auxiliary Transport Activities: EC$18.3M → EC$17.6M (-3.8%)
- #7 Travel Agents & Tour Operators: EC$18.5M → EC$17.8M (-3.8%)
- #8 Road Transport: EC$39.6M → EC$38.5M (-2.8%)
The concentration of declines among both high-value services and major industries highlights the uneven nature of current economic conditions.
Transport, media, and production sectors drive growth
In contrast, several smaller industries recorded strong gains, led by transport and media-related sectors.
Air Transport posted the fastest growth at 13.8%, rising from EC$2.9 million to EC$3.3 million.
Audio-Visual services increased 13.3%, growing from EC$1.5 million to EC$1.7 million, reflecting expansion in media and content-related activities.
Forestry grew 9.1%, moving from EC$1.1 million to EC$1.2 million.
Manufacturing rose 8.5% from EC$46.0 million to EC$49.9 million, while Other Crops increased 8.4% from EC$13.1 million to EC$14.2 million.
Sea Transport expanded 7.8%, rising from EC$5.1 million to EC$5.5 million.
Other Administrative & Support Services grew 5.7%, increasing from EC$31.5 million to EC$33.3 million.
Water services rose 4.2%, from EC$14.3 million to EC$14.9 million.
Other Services Activities increased 3.2%, moving from EC$9.3 million to EC$9.6 million.
Financial Intermediation rounded out the top 10 with a 2.5% increase, rising from EC$76.6 million to EC$78.5 million.
Full breakdown: 10 fastest-growing industries
The study’s ranking of expanding sectors shows where economic momentum is building:
- #1 Air Transport: EC$2.9M → EC$3.3M (+13.8%)
- #2 Audio-Visual: EC$1.5M → EC$1.7M (+13.3%)
- #3 Forestry: EC$1.1M → EC$1.2M (+9.1%)
- #4 Manufacturing: EC$46.0M → EC$49.9M (+8.5%)
- #5 Other Crops: EC$13.1M → EC$14.2M (+8.4%)
- #6 Sea Transport: EC$5.1M → EC$5.5M (+7.8%)
- #7 Other Administrative & Support Services: EC$31.5M → EC$33.3M (+5.7%)
- #8 Water: EC$14.3M → EC$14.9M (+4.2%)
- #9 Other Services Activities: EC$9.3M → EC$9.6M (+3.2%)
- #10 Financial Intermediation: EC$76.6M → EC$78.5M (+2.5%)
Uneven recovery reflected across sectors
Briefcase PR said the divergence between declining and expanding industries reflects a shift in economic momentum rather than a uniform rebound.
“Looking at year-over-year percentage movement reveals a different picture from a straight size ranking, with some of Saint Lucia’s largest industries easing while several smaller activities are expanding at a much faster pace,” a spokesperson said.
The analysis suggests that growth is increasingly concentrated in transport-related services, media-linked sectors, and segments of agriculture, while traditional pillars such as accommodation, wholesale trade, and professional services continue to contract.
Methodology behind the rankings
The study calculated percentage changes using the formula ((2025 Q2 − 2024 Q2) / 2024 Q2) × 100, based on QGDP data at constant prices.
A dense ranking system was used, meaning industries with identical percentage changes shared the same rank.
To maintain clarity, broader overlapping aggregates were excluded where more detailed categories were available. These included Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing, Crops, Accommodation & Food Services, Transport & Storage, Communication & Information Services, and Financial Services.
Macro-level totals and generic split rows were also excluded, including Gross Value Added (GVA), GDP totals, product taxes, subsidies, and unlabeled public and private subcategories under Education and Health & Social Work.
Source and data transparency
The analysis is based on “Quarterly Gross Domestic Product (QGDP) by Economic Activity at Constant Prices Q1 2006 to Q2 2025,” published by the Central Statistical Office of Saint Lucia and accessed April 23, 2026.
About the study
Briefcase PR, a digital public relations firm focused on data-led campaigns, said it analyzed the latest QGDP-by-industry data to identify sector-level trends. The firm said it helps organizations transform research into media coverage and public visibility.
What it means for St Lucia’s economy
The data underscores a critical shift in St Lucia’s economic structure, where growth is not evenly distributed across sectors.
While expanding industries such as air transport, audio-visual services, and manufacturing point to emerging areas of opportunity, the continued decline in major sectors such as accommodation, wholesale trade, and professional services may limit broader economic momentum.
The latest figures suggest that St Lucia’s recovery remains uneven, with structural changes shaping how growth is distributed and raising questions about the sustainability of gains across the wider economy.
