The service industry has solidified its position as the primary engine of the Dominican labor market, El Dia reports. According to recent data from the Dominican Social Security System (SDSS) for November 2025, the sector accounts for 1,265,240 contributing workers out of a total private-sector pool of 1,695,256 employees.
The dominance of this sector is not limited to headcount; it also leads in the number of contributing employers. Of the 107,266 private-sector employers registered, the service subsectors, led by commerce, represent 83.81% of the total. Specifically, commerce alone accounts for 32.81% of all contributing employers, followed by “other services” at 21.34%.
Historically, this reliance on the service sector reflects the Dominican Republic’s transition from an agrarian economy to one centered on tourism and retail, which now accounts for approximately 60% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Financially, the impact is substantial. For the month of November, the service sector contributed over RD$16.18 billion to the SDSS. Across the broader economy, total collections by the Treasury of Social Security (TSS) saw employers contributing RD$13.43 billion, while workers added approximately RD$5.27 billion.
In terms of compensation, the formal private sector remains concentrated in the lower-to-middle income brackets. The most frequent salary ranges fall between RD$15,000 and RD$30,000, followed by the RD$30,000 to RD$50,000 tier. These figures align with recent government policy, as a mandatory 8% increase to the minimum wage went into effect in early 2026 to combat the effects of global inflation on local purchasing power.
Read more in Spanish:
El Dia
12 February 2026