Home News Local Human Resources Needs Survey to be conducted
…Management Services Unit reintroduced
With unemployment at its peak among the younger population, the Public Service Department has announced plans to conduct a National Human Resources Needs Survey to provide statistics on the professions that are needed to satisfy human resource demands here in Guyana.
This was disclosed by Public Service Minister Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, who indicated that ‘Cabinet’ – which stands resigned since the June 18, 2019 ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice that the Government had toppled – has given approval for the survey. The plan will produce information that will guide private stakeholders on investments in requisite fields of employment.
“Cabinet has approved a request by the Department of the Public Service for the commissioning of a National Human Resources Needs Survey – the development of a national training plan by sectors to guide public investment in human capital, regular publication of labour market information to encourage private investment as Government alone will be hard pressed to satisfy public and especially private sector needs, and the design of an immigration policy to support the acquisition of skills and talents for national development,” the minister said.
She stated that it will point to areas where training is needed to meet workplace demands and qualify persons to fit these roles.
“The main objective…is to quantify and qualify the national skills, talent and competency needs of the economy, in order to satisfy the workforce and training needs. As may be evident here, this approval would see the cooperation of a number of sectors”.
President David Granger has also consented to the re-establishment of the Management Services Unit of the Public Service Department, which will support skills that are required to execute programmes.
Unemployment
Last February, Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram stated unemployment will present a major challenge in the coming years. He spoke of some of the reasons for Guyana’s low employment rate and also expressed the belief that not enough attention is being paid to its economic and social side.
“Part of the problem we have is that we have a very low wage economy,” Ram said, adding “and it discourages people entering into the employment sector. If you get the minimum wage and you have to spend 20 per cent of it on transportation alone, it’s not a great motivator for you to work”.
“(This) is why we have the paradox of employment and yet it is difficult to get people with even the basic skills. The rate these people earn, they say they might as well hustle here and there, rather than getting involved in the formal economy, having to pay NIS and income tax”.
According to the accountant, many do not see their National Insurance Scheme (NIS) deductions in the positive light of being a contribution to their future pension, but rather they see it as a deduction from an already small salary. He noted that another factor that must be considered was how effectively the school system prepared students to enter the workforce. Ram expressed worry about the impact of joblessness and the oil and gas sector.
“I think we will have a major challenge in the next couple years. We already have a challenge in terms of providing the labour necessary not only for the oil industry, but for all the spin-off industries. We mustn’t forget we don’t have a Ministry of Labour. Employment is partly economic and partly social”.