CEO: Job prospects in Jamaica already looking good

KINGSTON, JAMAICA — Notwithstanding initial worries about ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasingly urgent possibility of a recession striking major global markets, employment in Jamaica seems to be faring well so far. This is according to Joseph Boll, Caribbean Employment Services Inc. CEO, who said an upcoming job fair seems promising given the circumstances.

Caribbean Employment Services Inc. is a market-leading digital talent acquisition service that aims to connect the top talent from the Caribbean with hiring managers, HR professionals, and decision-makers in companies both within the Caribbean as well as abroad. Further, it aims to provide the region’s jobseekers and those who are already employed with news and resources related to Caribbean labor.

“With most of the region’s tourists coming from North America or the United Kingdom, recession fears were very real at the start of this year,” said Boll. “Economists have already expressed concern about what it could mean if those tourists slow down their travel to prepare for an economic downturn, and how that would affect people whose livelihoods rely on tourism in the Caribbean, whether directly or indirectly. But we at Caribbean Employment Services Inc. are glad to see that, so far, recovery seems to be booming in Jamaica and hundreds of new jobs continue to come onto the market to help people maintain a decent standard of living.”

Over the past year, and even as recovery from the pandemic’s economic impact was still fresh, Jamaica’s unemployment figures have been consistently improving. This feat has been impressive considering the dire economic prospects brought on by the pandemic, as well as the fact that most major international economic bodies projected that Caribbean nations like Jamaica would be reeling from the pandemic until at least 2025. The quick recovery served as a testament to the indomitable Caribbean spirit and resilient nature.

Now, Boll notes, a major job fair set to be held this week boasted dozens of job openings ranging from entry-level to management, spanning several sectors and featuring some of the country’s big-name employers.

“Based on employment prospects as they are right now, we would not be surprised to see Jamaica’s employment figures continue their positive trajectory by the time the next Labour Force Survey results are released,” Boll added.

In the meantime, he said Caribbean Employment Services Inc. remains committed to helping businesses with their talent acquisition needs as they seek the best possible candidates in Jamaica and throughout the whole Caribbean.