I read a story in The Royal Gazette recently that concerned me. The headline read, “Hayward reveals fewer jobs for Bermudians in 2025.”

According to the article, Minister of Economy and Labour Jason Hayward revealed that while Bermuda recorded 369 additional jobs in 2025, the number of jobs held by Bermudians actually decreased by 65. Meanwhile, jobs held by other non-Bermudians increased by 422.

Now, I appreciate the Minister’s explanation that Bermuda is experiencing a demographic shift, with more Bermudians retiring or leaving the workforce than entering it. That’s a serious concern, particularly for a country with an aging population. But what puzzles me is why we don’t seem to be doing more to address another part of this challenge: the Bermudians who have left our island.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I believe in immigration. I believe people from different parts of the world bring knowledge, skills, experiences and perspectives that can help countries grow. Bermuda has benefited tremendously from people who have come to the island to work, invest and contribute to our community. I don’t believe immigration and opportunities for Bermudians should be treated as competing interests. But that doesn’t mean the people of Bermuda should become an afterthought or feel they have to leave their homeland to build a better life.

Now let’s be clear. We haven’t just lost Bermudians who were struggling to find opportunities. We’ve also seen some incredibly talented, educated, experienced and capable Bermudians leave in recent years. People who could be contributing to our economy, mentoring younger generations, creating businesses and helping address some of the very challenges we’re now discussing. For the sake of this conversation, that includes me.

Of course, not everyone leaves Bermuda because they can’t find a job or opportunities. Some leave for family, education, lifestyle or personal reasons. Others may just want to experience life elsewhere, and that’s okay. But I wonder how many would consider returning if Bermuda offered them the opportunities, affordability and quality of life they’re looking for.

Sometimes it feels as though we’ve become too comfortable watching our people leave without making a serious effort to bring them home. Though I don’t believe that’s necessarily intentional, the consequences are something we should be concerned about.

The latest employment figures tell us that Bermuda’s economy is creating jobs. That’s encouraging. But job growth in itself doesn’t tell us whether Bermudians are benefiting from that growth or whether we’re creating the conditions necessary for our people to stay and succeed.

We can discuss workforce development, immigration reform and economic expansion, and yes, they are all important. But where is the strategy to attract Bermudians back home? Are we engaging our diaspora to understand what would make them return? Are employers actively recruiting Bermudians living overseas? Are we doing enough to address the cost of housing, healthcare and other expenses that make returning difficult?

To be fair, bringing Bermudians home won’t eliminate all of our challenges. We still need immigration, and we still need to prepare younger Bermudians for emerging opportunities. But surely retaining and attracting our own people should be an important part of the conversation.

I don’t want us to reach a point where we’re celebrating economic growth while overlooking the fact that some of the very people who could help sustain that growth no longer see Bermuda as a place where they can build their future.

We need immigration. We need investment. We need new opportunities. But we also need Bermudians, including those who have taken their talents and experiences beyond our shores. So while I appreciate the employment data and the explanations that follow, what I’d really like to know is what we’re doing to make Bermuda a place our people want to return to.

We need them, and I hope we’re prepared to show them just how much.

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