70 percent of VI workforce of expat origin- Premier Smith
Those were the sentiments of Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith in the House of Assembly yesterday October 9, 2012. The Premier was responding to a question from the Member from the Third District, Hon. Julian Fraser RA about the current unemployment rate in the Virgin Islands as compared to during the same time in 2011.
The Hon. Premier said that in the 1991 and 2001 censuses, the unemployment rate was measured 3.6% and 3.1% respectively and that these rates were among some of the lowest in the world and well below the 5% often internationally touted as the level of full employment.
However, Hon. Smith continued, in 2008 the global economic crisis caused the rate of unemployment to go up and that the number of persons employed between 2007 and 2008 had seen employment grow at a rate of 6.5%, but the crisis resulted in employment falling by 2%, 1.3% and 1.3% for 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively.
“However, it is difficult to gauge the effects of this dilemma on the unemployment rate. As 70% of the workforce is of expatriate origin it is not possible to determine whether they are in or out of the Country.
Meanwhile, Premier also disclosed that the inflation rate for January to December 2011 was 3.5% and that the monthly inflation rate for August 2012 stood at 0.12% when compared to prices for July 2012.
“The annual rate of inflation from January to August shows a decrease of 0.09% when compared to 2011,” Premier Smith stated.
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16 Responses to “70 percent of VI workforce of expat origin- Premier Smith”
What is the 70% spin all about? Was not the question about the unemployment rate in 2011 relative to the same period in 2012? The composition of the workforce is another issue. By the way what % of that 70% is unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, and professional? What % of these jobs were advertised with no local takers? What % of these jobs had qualifications beyond what is customarily required to perform the job but was included to eliminate many potential all
applicants? Are exceptions and deviation from the permit policy becoming the norm, making the policy dysfucyional. ? and ineffective? When is the 2010 census data going to be release so that it can used for decision support
Does anyone know how many bars there are in this little place? The only locals attached to those many, many, establishments are the people who own them. The workers are ALL expats. Or are we not counting them? Are we only counting people who work in the Trust industry, because that would not make an accurate picture of the job situation. What about the boating industry and the hotel industry? Anyone counting the number of expats who work as boat cleaners, waitresses, bartenders, etc., etc. Because I don't see, when I'm out and about a lot of British Virgin Islanders working at those jobs either. That's not a criticism, but when you start counting expats, you cannot just count the one industry and make the 70% a big deal when you have all these other businesses employing almost 100% expats, and we don't mind that expats are maids and waitresses, but still want to scream about it. Again, we need to keep it real and look at the big picture.
simply put, it cannot be had both ways where this is concerned, hire bvi islanders as waitresses and bartenders too, hire qualified bvi islanders in the professional field as well. i wonder if there is one single local professional who does not have a job and/or cannot find one!
does the bvi have enough skilled and professional persons to satisfy the demand? if it does then there ought to be no need WHATSOEVER to hire a single expat!
It all depends on whether the expatriate employers are willing to hire Virgin Islanders(British)!
Many are not so willing so your statistical data on this issue could be skewed incorrectly!
Ausar
I think the point the person is making is with regards to the strip clubs and other bars around the place. Expats don't own those, locals do and who do they employ? Not other locals. They request and are approved for hundreds of permits to run those corner organizations so wheel and come again. Tell me which bar you been to and see a local bartender or waitress. IF you want to tell the expats they must hire local, then the locals must lead by example. Apart from the Syrians who are Belongers, all supermarkets for example are owned by locals. What's the ratio of expats vs locals? Stop your $h1t and be real boss!