The Ministry of Economy and Labour is proud to join the global community in celebrating International Youth Day 2023. This annual observance provides an exceptional opportunity for us to recognize and honour our young people's remarkable potential, creativity, and enthusiasm.
This year's International Youth Day highlights the critical role that young people play in shaping a prosperous and sustainable future. In Bermuda, our youth represent the heart of our country, embodying resilience, innovation, and a commitment as agents of positive change.
One of the biggest challenges facing young people today is finding good jobs. The ILO estimates that the global youth unemployment rate is 13.1%, and it is even higher in developing countries. Investing in youth workforce development is essential to ensuring that young people have the skills they need to get good jobs and build a better future for themselves.
In Bermuda, the employment outlook for youth is trending in a positive direction. As of November 2022, the unemployment rate for youth ages 16 to 24 was 11.1 percent. A vast improvement from the 32.1% unemployment rate recorded in November 2020.
The Ministry of Economy and Labour is committed to investing in youth workforce development. As our young people are our most precious resource. They are the future of our country. Through executing the Youth Employment Strategy, the Government has committed to and will bring about changes for the benefit of our youth.
As part of this year’s Department of Workforce Development's Summer Employment Programme, to empower and include Bermuda’s youth in the process, a cohort of students formed a Student Committee tasked with reviewing and researching the nine goals outlined in the Youth Employment Strategy.
The student committee was led by Ms. Malaysia Burt, Mr. Justin Ebbin, Mr. Matthew Elliott, Ms. Precious Perinchief, Ms. Olivia Washington and Ms. Chontelle Williams. The committee planned and executed a roundtable discussion with participants of the summer employment programme to give voice to their ideas and held robust conversations on topics of importance to them in the strategy.
The committee presented their recommendations to the Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon Jason Hayward, JP, MP, at last week's summer employment reception.
Minister Hayward emphasised the importance of investing in our youth; "Bermuda's young people are the architects of our island's progress. Their fresh perspectives, unwavering determination, and innovative ideas are invaluable assets that drive our economic and social growth. On this International Youth Day, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering an environment where our youth can thrive and contribute meaningfully to Bermuda's economic development.
“On this International Youth Day, we invite all stakeholders, including parents, educators, businesses, and the community, to join us in celebrating the energy and potential of Bermuda's youth. By fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, we can empower our young people to become active contributors to our society and economy.”
The Ministry of Economy and Labour extends its warmest wishes to the youth of Bermuda on this occasion, encouraging them to dream big, embrace opportunities, and continue shaping Bermuda into a thriving and dynamic country.