Unemployment initiative a good idea
The new Youth Unemployment Register could greatly benefit the territory if government and businesses work together to sustain and expand the initiative into a long-term programme.
We were shocked to learn that 490 people between the ages of 16 and 30 have already signed the register, which was launched at the beginning of December. This number, which may only represent a small fraction of the territory’s out-of-work youths, suggests that unemployment is becoming a major problem in the Virgin Islands.
The register is a good first step toward a solution, as is the ongoing series of workshops designed to prepare registrants for a coming job fair.
But no one should expect that the job fair will bring about the employment of all of the registrants, or even a majority of them. Successfully tackling the underlying causes of youth unemployment will mean making systemic changes.
Thus, we were glad to hear education officials say that information gleaned from the register will be used to help guide future policy decisions. Changes, after all, seem to be much needed.
Currently, for example, there are several fields in the VI where belongers are woefully underrepresented. Some, like top financial services positions, require extensive tertiary education. Others — like sailing, diving and other tourism positions — do not.
VI high schools and the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College offer courses tailored to some of these professions, but more training opportunities may be needed. Data gleaned from the unemployment register should help education officials determine where adjustments and expansion would be most beneficial.
But even with such efforts, young people ultimately must shoulder the responsibility for making themselves employable.
Considering that unemployment rates are high around the world, they should accept that their first job might not be ideal. They also should prepare themselves to start at the bottom and work hard to open doors for promotion.
Employment opportunities abound in the territory, especially for belongers, who are required by law to receive first preference. But anybody who is unwilling to work hard cannot expect easy rewards in today’s job market.
Unemployed youths should take full advantage of the support offered by government and businesses, learning all they can about job skills and opportunities. Then, if they don’t get the job they want right away, they should figure out what they need to do to make it happen.