BVI employment sees slight increase
Despite cries that unemployment is increasing across the territory, figures from the 2024 budget show that employment has seen a slight increase over what the territory saw in 2022.
While presenting the territory’s budget for next year, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley stated that at the end of this year, the number of persons employed in the territory will exceed the 2022 total of 21,134 persons by one to two per cent.
The Premier also said this is a sign that the BVI economy is recovering from global shocks.
“Our economy was able to rebound swiftly from the hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses were able to reopen and to continue creating jobs,” Premier Wheatley said.
With the increase in employment, the government also earned more from the labour produced in the territory this year. This was shown in the government’s earnings from income and payroll tax, which increased by more than $417,000 over 2022’s revenue to $57.68 million.
Though the Premier used the 2024 budget presentation to boast about the good performance of the economy, Opposition members of the House of Assembly and some sections of the community continue to call for increased actions to address critical areas of the economy and reduce unemployment, especially among younger persons.
Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn described the budget speech as being filled with flowery words and false hope, while Second District Representative Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull bemoaned the absence of substance and not enough relief for the people of the territory.
Similarly, Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn accused the government of trespassing on the common sense of the people, adding that the budget was missing critical support for areas such as small business development, homelessness, relief for high electricity costs, and for seniors within the community.
Premier Wheatley — like all other Virgin Islands leaders — has been touting the good performance of the BVI economy, despite cries that there are growing hardships being faced by residents and businesses.
Some have stated that the Premier is out of touch with the current realities in the territory.
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ON SALT ISLAND?
IN FEES
It’s a lie or a misprint. Unemployment has increased. The government is broke they are unable to employ. The private section crying out for relief they are unable to employ. Tolans don’t have the skills to be self employed so where is the figures. Lie lie premier with a lower case p.
Where are you getting your statistics from? Simply answer the people’s question please!
My daughter who graduated in June here tirelessly looking for a job. I myself looking also. But they already have the jobs for who they want.
@ Really?
Contact the workforce unit at labour department for employment referrals for your daughter. The job referral may not be what she wants but encourage her to take it until she gets what she desires. My motto is “tek what yo get til yo get what yo want”. Stand by her until then.
Contacting Labour is a Waste of time. My son and nephews have applications there probably filed under “G”.
Where are these stats coming from? Who are these people that are being employed? Have work permits increased also? You cannot use a simple metric like this to conclude that employment has increased and we are therefore “recovering from global shocks”!!! We are in trouble if we are being fed this nonsense by our leader, and if people actually believe it.
This man has been living on airplanes and in expensive foreign hotels since April so how does he know anything about life in the BVI???
This story is more ignorant than the news site running it. So many unanswered questions in such a statement about employment compared to obvious reality. Poor BVI.