Cayman Finance event celebrating 20 Cayman Finance interns.
Support for the financial services industry among Caymanians has risen significantly over the past three years, according to new research commissioned by Cayman Finance.
The findings show that more than seven in ten Caymanians (72%) now have a positive view of how the financial services industry impacts the country’s overall well-being. This is a substantial increase from 2022, when only 42% of Caymanians had a positive view of the financial services industry.
When expatriates are also included, 71% of Cayman Islands residents have a positive view of the financial services industry. Support is highest among graduates (85%), people aged 35–54 (75%), and those living in West Bay (77%).
“Everything we do at Cayman Finance is ultimately to enhance the success of our community,” said Steve McIntosh, CEO of Cayman Finance. “It’s tremendously gratifying to see such a significant increase in public support. We are a non-profit organisation, the team works incredibly hard, and this really makes it all feel worth it.”
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, 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%.
McIntosh said the progress had been driven by a team of exceptionally talented and hard-working Caymanian professionals, including Brittany MacVicar, Haymond Rankin and Samantha Widmer, who have helped strengthen engagement with the community as ambassadors for the industry.
“Associate Director for Community Engagement, Danielle Hennings, has been instrumental in this achievement through her work on our education and talent development initiatives. Social Media and Brand Manager Alanna Warwick-Smith has raised the profile of the industry on social media and by leading our award-winning campaign highlighting the personal stories of Caymanians working in the industry,” the Cayman Finance CEO added.
Last year, Cayman Finance launched a 16-week integrated marketing campaign to spotlight the positive impact of financial services on the Cayman Islands community. By focusing on first-hand experiences, the campaign connected local audiences to the industry’s contributions and brought financial services into the public conversation. The campaign was awarded Marketing Campaign of the Year at the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce 2025 Business Excellence Awards.
McInstosh noted, “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.”
A 2025 report by Capital Economics highlighted the financial services industry’s importance to the islands’ well-being. It shows that the financial services industry supports 62% of Cayman’s total economy and is the source of almost two-thirds (65%) of all government revenue. Over half (54%) of the sector’s 6,724 jobs are held by Caymanians, with just 2,800 work permit holders in 2023 – far fewer than in, for example, construction and tourism. The sector is the islands’ largest employer of women, with nearly 60% of its workforce female.
Conor O’Dea, chairman of Cayman Finance, said he is delighted by the results of this independent survey, which is an important measure of support for financial services across the community.
“The industry has been the cornerstone of Cayman’s economy for decades. Some great Caymanians established and continue to lead it, blending local and international talent to strengthen Cayman’s position as a global financial services centre. At Cayman Finance, we are proud of the growing role we play in promoting and developing the industry alongside our members and the broader community,” O’Dea said. “The future is bright, and Cayman should take pride in the prominent role financial services plays in our economy, alongside other key sectors such as tourism, hospitality and construction.”
The research was undertaken by Tower Marketing, which surveyed 502 Cayman Islands residents, including 260 Caymanians, between November 2025 and January 2026, using a statistically representative sampling methodology. The results have a margin of error of ±4.4% at the 95% confidence level.
