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Charting employment trends in Jamaica
published: Sunday | June 15, 2008
Amitabh Sharma, Features Coordinator
Out of college and hunting for a job? There are more questions than answers. Where are the opportunities? Which industries are offering jobs? How do I need to equip myself? The list of questions goes on. Here is an insight into the job market in Jamaica and how it is shaping up.
The good news is that there are fewer unemployed people than before. "The average unemployment rate in Jamaica has been showing a declining trend over the past 30 years," said Maurice Harris, labour market analyst at the Planning Institute of Jamaica.
Harris, who was speaking at The Gleaner-partnered CHOICES Career and Education Expo last week, said while employment in the goods-producing sector remained flat over the past 10 years, employment in the services sector showed a steady increase over the same period.
Booming Sectors
According to Maurice, who is technical secretary to the Labour Market and Productivity Task Force of Jamaica's National Development Plan (Vision 2030), the top-three industries that created jobs between 2003 and 2007 were:
i) Wholesale and retail, hotels and restaurant services;
ii) Community, social and personal services;
iii) Construction and installation.
The top-three occupations in terms of job creation between 2003 and 2007 were:
i) Services workers and shop and market sales workers;
ii) Craft and related trade workers;
iii) Professionals, senior officials and technicians.
Job Creators
"The main prospective areas of growth in the Jamaican labour market are tourism and related industries, construction and installation, and mining," he said. The boom in the tourist industry, addition of 12,000 rooms in eight new hotels will create 52,800 direct and indirect jobs, he said. "Additional employment will come in related sectors as transportation, entertainment, food and beverage and shopping," Harris said.
The other sectors, he outlined, that would create jobs will be construction and mining.
Opportunities in construction
Northern Jamaica Development Project including the North Coast Highway
Highway 2000 project
Airport rehabilitation and upgrading
Port modernisation and expansion
Solid waste management.
Harris outlined some of the other growth areas as:
Goods producing
Service
Wholesale and retail trades
Transportation, storage and communication
Community, social and personal services.
Modernise labour market
He said that plans to modernise the labour market were under way; critical among the measures are the promotion of entrepreneurship and encouraging programmes in the education system that foster creativity among youths.
Another objective, said Harris, is to create a workforce that is more flexible and willing to learn. He also cited proper career guidance programmes as a means to inform and facilitate informed career choices.
"Plans are also under way to create avenues for increased participation of challenged persons in the labour market," he said.
Trends
According to the labour market analyst, the Jamaican workforce is more adaptable, flexible and willing to learn. "One of the critical measures would be to promote a national programme of re-socialisation. This will improve work ethics, values, attitudes and behaviour within the workforce.
"Labour market trends have shown continued growth in the services sector. Technology is the key driver across the board, which means that information technology skills are required in all areas of occupation," he said.
These technological advances have made it necessary for the workers to update their skill sets and move on to a higher level.
Recommendations
Harris told students that in the labour market, it is desirable that one demonstrates the ability to think critically, solve problems, and adapt quickly to changes in technology.
He recommended that students utilise their time upgrading their skill sets and acquiring new skills. "They should take up short courses and other forms of training to garner both the hard and soft skills necessary to succeed in the labour market."
Some short-course options:
Graphic design
Web design
Project management
Leadership
Events management
Entertainment management
Training in soft skills
Résumé writing, winning interviews
Customer service skills
He said that the students should also learn additional skills, like driving a vehicle, typing, public speaking and gain proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Finally, he challenged students to develop fully their communication skills, interpersonal relationship, and initiative. "Opportunities are there for those who approach the work world with an open mind. All it requires is a positive attitude balanced by technical capability."
amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com.
published: Sunday | June 15, 2008
Amitabh Sharma, Features Coordinator
Out of college and hunting for a job? There are more questions than answers. Where are the opportunities? Which industries are offering jobs? How do I need to equip myself? The list of questions goes on. Here is an insight into the job market in Jamaica and how it is shaping up.
The good news is that there are fewer unemployed people than before. "The average unemployment rate in Jamaica has been showing a declining trend over the past 30 years," said Maurice Harris, labour market analyst at the Planning Institute of Jamaica.
Harris, who was speaking at The Gleaner-partnered CHOICES Career and Education Expo last week, said while employment in the goods-producing sector remained flat over the past 10 years, employment in the services sector showed a steady increase over the same period.
Booming Sectors
According to Maurice, who is technical secretary to the Labour Market and Productivity Task Force of Jamaica's National Development Plan (Vision 2030), the top-three industries that created jobs between 2003 and 2007 were:
i) Wholesale and retail, hotels and restaurant services;
ii) Community, social and personal services;
iii) Construction and installation.
The top-three occupations in terms of job creation between 2003 and 2007 were:
i) Services workers and shop and market sales workers;
ii) Craft and related trade workers;
iii) Professionals, senior officials and technicians.
Job Creators
"The main prospective areas of growth in the Jamaican labour market are tourism and related industries, construction and installation, and mining," he said. The boom in the tourist industry, addition of 12,000 rooms in eight new hotels will create 52,800 direct and indirect jobs, he said. "Additional employment will come in related sectors as transportation, entertainment, food and beverage and shopping," Harris said.
The other sectors, he outlined, that would create jobs will be construction and mining.
Opportunities in construction
Northern Jamaica Development Project including the North Coast Highway
Highway 2000 project
Airport rehabilitation and upgrading
Port modernisation and expansion
Solid waste management.
Harris outlined some of the other growth areas as:
Goods producing
Service
Wholesale and retail trades
Transportation, storage and communication
Community, social and personal services.
Modernise labour market
He said that plans to modernise the labour market were under way; critical among the measures are the promotion of entrepreneurship and encouraging programmes in the education system that foster creativity among youths.
Another objective, said Harris, is to create a workforce that is more flexible and willing to learn. He also cited proper career guidance programmes as a means to inform and facilitate informed career choices.
"Plans are also under way to create avenues for increased participation of challenged persons in the labour market," he said.
Trends
According to the labour market analyst, the Jamaican workforce is more adaptable, flexible and willing to learn. "One of the critical measures would be to promote a national programme of re-socialisation. This will improve work ethics, values, attitudes and behaviour within the workforce.
"Labour market trends have shown continued growth in the services sector. Technology is the key driver across the board, which means that information technology skills are required in all areas of occupation," he said.
These technological advances have made it necessary for the workers to update their skill sets and move on to a higher level.
Recommendations
Harris told students that in the labour market, it is desirable that one demonstrates the ability to think critically, solve problems, and adapt quickly to changes in technology.
He recommended that students utilise their time upgrading their skill sets and acquiring new skills. "They should take up short courses and other forms of training to garner both the hard and soft skills necessary to succeed in the labour market."
Some short-course options:
Graphic design
Web design
Project management
Leadership
Events management
Entertainment management
Training in soft skills
Résumé writing, winning interviews
Customer service skills
He said that the students should also learn additional skills, like driving a vehicle, typing, public speaking and gain proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Finally, he challenged students to develop fully their communication skills, interpersonal relationship, and initiative. "Opportunities are there for those who approach the work world with an open mind. All it requires is a positive attitude balanced by technical capability."
amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com.