Government conducts labour market survey to determine training, job needs

TEAMS FROM the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning are now going to various households conducting labour force surveys.

Word of this came from Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Camillo Gonsalves on the ULP Speaks programme on Star Radio on Tuesday night,September 20.

Minister Gonsalves said he asked members of his staff to conduct labour force and labour demand surveys in St Vincent and the Grenadines and at present teams from the ministry are on the ground gathering the information needed.

He said these teams are interviewing workers, employers and businesses to find out more about the labour market in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“We are looking at the trend and trying to forecast what the in demand jobs would be,” he explained.

“We are trying to target the training.” If the survey finds that many plumbers and masons will be needed in three years time, then this field will be given priority for training .

“We will train in accordance to what we need.”

Gonsalves said the results of the survey will influence training so that persons

would not just have a certificate but will also have an opportunity to get work.

He pointed out that many persons are currently being trained under existing programmes in areas such as hospitality, electrical installation and plumbing and so far for this year about 1,500 persons have been trained and certified.