– urges young Guyanese to seize training, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities
SENIOR Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, has urged young Guyanese to capitalise on the country’s expanding economic opportunities, highlighting that youth unemployment has fallen by more than half since 2020 as the government continues to invest in skills training, job creation and entrepreneurship.
Delivering the feature address at the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning’s National Youth Skills Forum on Wednesday to mark World Youth Skills Day, Dr. Singh said Guyana’s rapidly expanding economy is creating jobs at a pace that now exceeds the country’s supply of skilled workers.
Addressing participants at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, the minister said the country’s unemployment rate fell from 12.8 per cent in 2020 to 6.8 per cent in 2024, while youth unemployment declined from 30.2 per cent to 12.1 per cent over the same period.
According to Dr. Singh, the reduction has been driven by the creation of more than 104,000 jobs during the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration’s first five years in office.
“We did that by creating in the first five years of being in government more than 104,000 new jobs. In a population such as ours, 104,000 is a really staggering number, and jobs have continued to be created,” he said.
Despite the gains, the minister said Guyana’s labour market is now facing a different challenge.
“The reality is that jobs are being created more rapidly than we are able to produce people with the skills required to take up those jobs,” he told the gathering.
Against that backdrop, Dr. Singh encouraged young people to identify opportunities in sectors experiencing rapid growth and equip themselves with the skills needed to benefit from them.
“Ask yourself, ‘Where do I see an opportunity in here for me? And what do I need to do to take advantage of that opportunity?'” he said, noting that skilled workers are currently in high demand.
He described young people as being in a favourable position within the labour market, saying employers are actively seeking workers with relevant skills.
“You are the people who are going to be filling those jobs and starting those small businesses… You are the sellers in this labour market, and the opportunities are there for you to convert,” Dr. Singh said.
For those still uncertain about their career direction, the minister advised them not to delay entering the workforce or pursuing training opportunities.
“While you are figuring out what you want to do, get up and do something. Make a start. Sign up for a training course, do the training course. Apply for a job, get the job and start the work,” he urged.
He also encouraged young people to explore entrepreneurship, while emphasising that career opportunities should no longer be viewed through the lens of traditional gender roles.
Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to youth development, Dr. Singh said long-term national prosperity depends on three pillars: education and skills training, employment, and entrepreneurship.
“Young people of Guyana – tomorrow’s Guyana is yours. This is your time,” he declared.
The National Youth Skills Forum also featured presentations from Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Steven Jacobs, Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning Keoma Griffith, Chairperson of the Board of Industrial Training Kathy Smith, and Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Industrial Training Richard Maughn.
The speakers highlighted a range of government programmes designed to equip young people with technical skills, improve employability and support entrepreneurship, while encouraging participants to take advantage of training and employment opportunities available across the country.
