🔨 Only 27% of construction workers in the Cayman Islands are locals

Ministry of Labour Chief Officer, Wesley Howell, has debunked the idea that the construction industry is a major source of employment for Caymanians. Speaking to the Public Accounts Committee, Howell revealed that only about 27% of individuals working in the construction sector are Caymanian. This comes in response to a report by the Office of the Auditor General that expressed concerns about government spending on initiatives to help locals find employment. 🏗️

Howell highlighted that the research and collected data indicate that Caymanians are not engaged in areas that are generating new jobs and opportunities. Despite construction being one of the largest growth areas for jobs, nearly three-quarters of these jobs are filled by non-Caymanians. The Chief Officer pointed out significant skills gaps, with certain skill sets, such as carpentry and specific types of civil engineering, being hard to find. He suggested that there is a need for additional incentives at the scholarship and internship level to guide students into areas where there is job growth and demand. 📚

The Office of the Auditor General's report identified several issues with the CI$144 million spent by the government over the past five years on efforts to help Caymanians enter the workforce and enhance their career prospects. The report found little evidence that these initiatives had been successful. It also highlighted multiple barriers keeping locals unemployed, including lack of affordable childcare, failure to increase the minimum wage, discrimination in favour of cheap overseas labour, and issues related to substance abuse, mental health, learning difficulties and poor attainment. Howell stated that work is in progress on a policy addressing these issues, which will be presented to the next administration in 2025. 📈