'Going green' has potential for job creation

Sunday, May 03, 2015

NEW and emerging industries will be the go-to sectors for job seekers for 2015 and beyond, according to the latest Labour Market Trends and Prospects for Employment Opportunities in Jamaica, which was recently tabled in Parliament. The study, prepared by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security's Planning, Research and Monitoring Unit (PRMU), cited potential in areas such as the green economy, logistics, business process outsourcing (BPO), creative industries, tourism, agriculture, and health services.

These prospects have the potential to reduce the country's unemployment rate, which is at 13.7 per cent, the lowest since 2010. According to the study, the green economy, while relatively new, has the potential to facilitate employment and new skill sets. The study defines the green economy "as an economy, which is balanced by growth and a sustainable environment where wastes within one industry become raw materials for another". Some jobs available within the sector include conservation experts; truck, tractor and heavy-duty equipment drivers; chemical engineers; renewable energy engineers; electricians; solar alternative technicians; welders and energy auditors.

It said, too, that the logistics hub project has created confidence for economic growth and possible employment within the related areas of transportation and logistics, information technology, manufacturing, business management, human and social services, health and community services and agriculture, food and natural resources. The document also said that online employment is becoming a trend in Jamaica as people are becoming more interested in blogging, freelance data entry, and web page design. Meanwhile, jobs in the services sector were the main source of employment in 2014.

According to the document, services accounted for just over 67 per cent of the employed labour force last year, with the wholesale and retail, and repair of motor vehicles and equipment industries, as the top service sector, comprising 20.1 per cent of the labour force. Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing were the largest employers from the Goods Producing sector, with 18.4 per cent, followed by Producers of Government Services, with a little over 14 per cent. A further breakdown showed that professionals, senior officials and technicians made up the largest group of workers, with 22.2 per cent, followed by service workers, and shop and market sales workers, who accounted for 19.9 per cent.

Sales representatives, security officers, drivers, bartenders and chefs were listed among the "hot" occupations for 2014, based on a review of job advertisements posted in the daily newspapers. The PRMU will be undertaking additional research this year on the National Labour Market, Employment Opportunities in Four Selected Parishes, Canadian Farm Work Programme, Understanding Green Economy and its Prospects for employment in Jamaica, among other focus areas.

Published in the Jamaica Observer Sunday, May 03, 2015