Cayman Finance reports that support for the jurisdiction’s finance industry continues to grow. According to a research question commissioned by the industry body, 71% of people living on the islands have a positive view of the financial services sector.
That number is being driven by an uptick in support from Caymanians. The survey found that 72% of Caymanians hold a positive view of the industry, up from 55% a year before. According to the research, Caymanians are more likely to have a positive view of the industry than expatriates based on the islands.
The question was asked as part of a broader survey undertaken by Tower Marketing, which surveyed 502 Cayman Islands residents, including 260 Caymanians, between November 2025 and January 2026, using a statistically representative sample.
“We have to treat that survey question with caution,” said Caymanian historian, political analyst and former cabinet minister, Roy Bodden. “From an academic perspective, it would not be considered unbiased, because it was commissioned by an organisation directly involved in the industry.”
That said, Bodden felt the uptick in public support likely reflects the reality in Cayman. “The financial services sector is growing and that is allowing it to hire more Caymanians,” said Bodden.
Employment is key
According to the latest data from Cayman Finance, 54% of people working in financial services are Caymanian.
“The improved perception of the financial services industry comes as Cayman Finance and its members have ramped up efforts to enhance career pathways for young Caymanians in recent years,” said Cayman Finance in a press release.
“Expanding initiatives that now include the ‘LEAD’ summer work experience programme, the ‘Fundamentals of Financial Services’ workshop series for Year 9 high school students, and its new graduate training programme, estimated to have increased the number of graduate jobs in the financial services industry by some 50%,” continued the Cayman Finance press release.
“I do give Cayman Finance some credit,” said Bodden. “They are making an effort, and these changes will take time – likely a generation.”
However, Bodden warned that problems remained beneath the headline figures. “The industry is hiring more Caymanians, but many – myself included – believe that qualified and experienced Caymanians are not advancing at a pace that reflects both their capabilities and the growth of the sector.”
“Those of us working in the financial services industry know that it creates extraordinary value for the country and is central to the islands’ prosperity, but we must recognise that for many people the benefits are much less tangible,’ said Steve McIntosh, CEO of Cayman Finance.
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