THE number of over-65s increased by 13% in the past five years, while the number of under-16s living in Jersey dropped by 7%, as newly released figures laid bare the pressures on the working-age population.
Published yesterday, the reports by Statistics Jersey, show that there has been a 23-fold increase in the number of residents with temporary work permits over a five year period.
The Island’s resident population was provisionally estimated at 104,490 people at the end of 2025, having grown by around 1,000 people since 2020.
However, Statistics Jersey noted that, when excluding those on temporary work permits, it had actually decreased by 810 people.
The reports include analysis across a range of categories, including age, residential and employment statuses, as well as nationalities and work permits.
Net migration was +180 in 2025, which was lower than the year before when the figure was +550.
The independent statistical office documented that, without migration, the working age population would have fallen in the last five years by an average of 370 people per year due to ageing and deaths.
The number of people holding temporary work permits increased from 80 at the end of 2020 to 1,890 at the end of 2025.
The figures also highlighted that, between 2015 and 2025, the overall dependency ratio – which acts as a measure of the potential economic impact on the working population to support children and the elderly – rose from 48.7 to 53.5 ‘dependently-aged’ people for every 100 people of working age
Interim Chamber of Commerce president Eliot Lincoln said that the figures “underline the scale of Jersey’s demographic challenge”.
“The dependency ratio is now nearly 54 dependents for every 100 people of working age, a worrying increase of five in the last decade alone.”
He continued: “Since 2020, the number of under 16s has fallen by 7%, while the number aged 65 and over has risen by 13%. Excluding those on temporary work permits, Jersey’s population has actually fallen by 810 [in the same period].”
“Our policies must recognise this reality by supporting employers to recruit and, crucially, retain a sufficiently large, productive workforce needed to sustain and grow our economy, support an ageing population and deliver our public services.”
