Major Focus on Job Creation Opportunities for Young People – Hylton

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, says one of the major priorities of the Government is the empowerment of the nation’s youth, through job creation opportunities.

He said the digital economy is one area the administration is currently exploring, as a means of generating employment for young people. The digital economy is the global network of economic and social activities that are enabled by platforms, such as the internet, mobile and sensor networks.

"In the area of microwork, for example, people around the world can be connected to the new digital economy, thereby transforming their lives and providing long-term employment opportunities,” he said.

Microwork is a series of small tasks that have been broken out of a larger project and can be completed through the Internet

Addressing the graduation ceremony of the 54th cohort of the Youth Leadership Training Programme, held at the Civic Affairs office of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce in Kingston, on August 24, the Minister said the Government sees microwork “as a vital outlet for the unemployed youth in our communities, and indeed, for Jamaica."

Mr. Hylton said it has been estimated that over one million workers have earned US$1 billion to $2 billion via microwork worldwide in the past 10 years and that the market could be worth several billions within the next five years.

To this end, the Minister said a proposal from the United States-based MobileWorks in July this year to introduce its work outsourcing programme in Jamaica has garnered “strong interest." The company's target is to generate about 1,000 jobs within half a year, and up to 10,000 in the long term.