The State of Small Business in Barbados

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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INTRODUCTION

The Barbados MSME Survey 2026

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METHODOLOGY

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SUMMARY OF RESEARCH FINDINGS Section 1: Structure of the MSME Sector, Employment, and Ownership Dynamics Section 2: Financial Performance, Revenue, and Export Activity Section 3: Climate Change and MSME Resilience

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5 6

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Section 4: Digital Adoption and Technology Use

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Section 5: Qualitative Insights from MSME Owners’ Focus Group

DISCUSSION ON KEY VARIABLES Section 1: Formal Establishments, Total Employment and Number/Ratio of Jobs within the National Economy Section 2: Number of Firms Created, COVID-19 Impacts, Gender Distribution in Ownership, Age, Experience and Education of Business Owners Section 3: Financial Performance, Export Activity, and Economic Contributions Section 4: Climate Change and Climate-Related Responses

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Section 5: Digital Adoption and Technology Use Section 6: Qualitative Focus Group of MSMEs on Key Challenges, Experiences and Responses

CONCLUSION

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