The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is strengthening partnerships with employers and training institutions to help jobseekers in Western Jamaica find work as the region continues its recovery from Hurricane Melissa.
State Minister Donovan Williams said cooperation across sectors is essential to matching applicants with vacancies, developing relevant skills and rebuilding productive capacity.
“Creating meaningful pathways to employment requires collaboration among government, employers, training institutions and other stakeholders,” he said.
Williams was speaking at the Social Development Commission’s Montego Bay Employment and Health Fair at Sam Sharpe Square, St James, on October 26.
The two-day event, organised with the St James Municipal Corporation and the Labour Ministry, brought together approximately 20 employers and government agencies. Residents were able to explore job openings, access training information and receive health services.
Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, said the initiative was developed to support economic recovery, particularly in hospitality, where hotel closures and operational disruptions following the hurricane had cost thousands of jobs.
According to Vernon, hospitality accounts for approximately 60 per cent of Montego Bay’s economic activity. He said about 90 per cent of hotels were expected to reopen by the end of October, with additional properties returning to operation in early 2027.
Those reopenings, he explained, would increase demand for workers, including people interested in returning to the industry after moving into other sectors or starting businesses.
Vernon said the HEART/NSTA Trust would play an important role in preparing applicants for emerging vacancies through skills training.
The fair also sought to reduce barriers to healthcare by providing medical screenings and National Health Fund registration.
“A healthy population and a healthy workforce is a productive workforce and a productive population,” Vernon said.
For Demetry Backriddan, who said he had been unemployed for approximately three months, the range of participating employers offered an opportunity to explore several career options.
“I like the turnout. I like that I have different places that I can really go in and have a chance at this,” said Backriddan, who expressed an interest in building construction.
Another attendee, Dahdra McNaughton, visited the fair specifically to register for an NHF card. She said she did not have health benefits through a traditional nine-to-five job and welcomed the chance to complete registration and receive her card at the event.
Williams commended the organisers’ partnership and expressed hope that attendees would secure meaningful employment.
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