Women make up the majority of the Cayman Islands Civil Service, earn higher average salaries than their male colleagues and are steadily closing the gap in senior leadership, according to the government’s 2025 Annual HR Report.
The report shows women accounted for 56% of civil servants in 2025, up from 51% in 2006. Over that period, the number of female civil servants increased by 1,084, almost double the growth among men. By the end of 2025, the civil service employed 2,782 women, compared with 2,206 men.
Women also accounted for 56% of promotions in 2025, in line with their share of the workforce, and now earn a higher average salary than their male colleagues.
Manderson credits women’s role in civil service
The statistics coincide with a historic leadership transition in the civil service. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson retired on 7 July after more than four decades in public service and has been succeeded by Gloria McField-Nixon, the first woman to serve as deputy governor.
McField-Nixon brings decades of public service experience to the role, having held several chief officer positions across government. She is also a qualified lawyer and has led a number of ministries and departments during her civil service career.
In her foreword to the report, McField-Nixon, who was chief officer when it was prepared, said government’s commitment to “inclusion and balance remains strong”, noting that women accounted for an equal share of promotions during the year.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Cayman’s For the Record, Manderson told host Orrett Connor that one of government’s greatest strengths has been the contribution of women, crediting them with helping to shape the modern civil service.
He said the women who had mentored him throughout his career had influenced his own leadership style.
“I’ve had these amazing women in my life and I’ve worked exceptionally well with them,” he said, recalling past supervisors who helped shape his approach to leadership.
Women out-earning men
Consistent with the report’s broader findings, it also challenges long-held assumptions about pay.
Women earned an average annual salary of $64,474 in 2025, compared with $61,959 for men. The report says the difference reflects the distribution of employees across salary grades rather than unequal pay for the same work, with women now making up half or more of employees in several senior grades.
“I feel really good about where we are with ensuring that our women get their rightful place,” Manderson said.
Closing the leadership gap
Despite those gains, the report suggests women remain under-represented at the highest levels of government.
Women occupy 44% of the 14 chief officer positions, and 44% of head of department roles, even though they make up the majority of the overall workforce.
Manderson said appointments should continue to be based on merit rather than gender.
“I keep saying to the team, appoint the right person. Let us not look at male or female, just appoint the right person,” he said.
At the same time, he said he is encouraged by the next generation entering government.
“We have seen some tremendous young women now coming into the service,” he said. “I’m actually not seeing enough young men coming in. I am seeing more young women coming into the service who I see as our future leaders.”
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