While the latest report of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) puts Guyana’s overall unemployment rate for 2023 at 12.5 percent, Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton said today that this is not due to a scarcity of jobs. Speaking at his ministry’s end-of-year press conference, he said the issue often stems from individuals only seeking “dream jobs or specific jobs”. These persons he said often refuse to settle for the jobs that are available in the interim.
Minister Hamilton however challenged this perspective, passionately urging citizens to broaden their job search by exploring the myriad of employment opportunities currently available across the country.
He clarified, “Unemployment is a factor of many people who are looking for their dream jobs and special jobs. But there are jobs, you know, across this country.” The minister pointed to sectors like construction and call centers, highlighting the urgent need for reinforcements in those areas.
Directing his message to the younger generation, Minister Hamilton reminisced about a time when the focus was on securing a job, irrespective of qualifications. He advised, “Instead of bellyaching via social media about how qualified you are and how long you’ve been unemployed, please, young people, there are enough jobs for those who need a job and want a job while pursuing your dream job.”
On the matter of qualifications, the minister emphasized a crucial distinction, stating, “Qualifications don’t necessarily make us employable.” He highlighted instances where individuals with advanced degrees struggled due to a lack of essential work-related qualities. “Some people get masters and they’re unemployable because they can’t work with anybody; they have no discipline, no ethics of work.”
Minister Hamilton in conclusion reiterated that jobs are not scarce and emphasized the need for persons to seize available opportunities.
