Ministers encourage entrepreneurship and skills training

Labour Minister Stephen McClashie has urged the public to also look at the positives the pandemic have brought and not just the negatives.

He was speaking at a webinar on Saturday – Entrepreneurship in the 21st century – which addressed concerns and gave guidance to people wanting start their own businesses.

McClashie, the La Brea MP, said while the workforce has been affected significantly, covid19 has also shown the need for skills training and re-tooling.

“The harsh reality is there is job loss and unemployment and it is on the rise. Compounded to that rise is our educational system not being fit for purpose as the emphasis shifts from academia to skills.

“Both are important, but we are now are at a place where skills are likely to land jobs than those without skills. Our educational system has not been preparing us generally, except maybe for some of the technical areas.”

McClashie said there was still room for improvement as the world of work paradigms shifted and continued to be transient.

Technology in traditional work areas, he noted could provide access to meaningful employment opportunities through entrepreneurship.

“Traditional opportunities are not going to go anywhere and there is still room for emerging new businesses.”

Minister of Youth Development and National Services Foster Cummings added at this time entrepreneurship required the creation and growth profitable businesses, and other types of social enterprises that are non-traditional, but added value beyond the bottom line.

Collaboration, he noted, was critical for development especially among youth which has been addressed in the National Youth Development 2020-2025 policy devised by the ministry.

“Within the next few years and through the implementation of this policy, we will create a cadre of skilled and empowered youth entrepreneurs by harnessing opportunities in new and emerging industries, stimulating an ecosystem that encourages public-private partnerships and university-industry collaboration and supporting the development of practical learning resources.”

He said the covid19 pandemic has caused a significant increase in entrepreneurial exploits in farming, baking and social media management, and it has been thriving at an increasing rate.

“Whether due to job loss or the flexible work-from-home thrust, many people are boosting their confidence to 'beat the crisis' and are facing it head-on and thriving.”

Cummings urged young people to learn and explore the roles of cooperatives which could help with finances and loans, and other state enterprises which provide microfinance and business development services.