Near 10% locals still jobless
(CNS): Almost ten percent of Caymanian workers are without a job, the Economics and Statistics office has said in its latest report on the country’s labour force. Despite an increase in the size of the workforce, overall unemployment increased last year from 6.2% in 2010 to 6.3%. The rate of unemployment among Caymanian workers remained at 9.8% at the end of last year, while unemployment among non-Caymanians was 3.1%. The ESO reports that the size of the workforce is estimated at 37,620 and the number of people in work in 2011 was said to be 35,267. With an extra 23 added to the jobless list, 2,353 remained unemployed last year.
“I am pleased that the labour market has improved last year, and I expect it to further make progress this year,” said Premier McKeeva Bush who has responsibility for the ESO.
Non-Caymanians make up a greater percentage of the local labour force, taking 52.9% of the work. People aged between 35 and 44 years accounted for 33.2% of the labour force in 2011, followed by the 25-34 year-olds, which comprised 25.2%. However people under the age of 24 have the highest levels of unemployment at more than 20%. Overall, the largest group of unemployed people was Caymanian men younger than 35 as they make up more than 54% of the jobless total.
Despite Cayman’s claim to having a high standard of living, almost 37% of the work force earns less than $1,600 per month. The ESO report reveals that the highest earners in the country are still predominately non-Caymanian men and the lowest earners are non-Caymanian women.
The report also reveals that unemployment among Caymanians is, in many cases, long term with more than 50% being out of work for more than a year and one in six has never had a job. On the whole, they have been without work for longer than six months and have relied mainly on financial support from spouses or partners, parents, or other relatives and friends.
Despite this, over half of the unemployed (56%) had received some form of training and around a quarter had finished college or university.
The top occupation remains service and sales, which accounts for 19.4% of total employment. Elementary occupations account for 16.3%, professionals make up 15.1%, technicians and associate professionals 13.9% and craft and related trade workers account for just over 10%.
About half of the country’s work force is either a civil servant, or works in construction, finance or the wholesale and retail trades. Of those workers who remitted some of their earnings overseas, 28.3% sent up to $4,000 home.
Category: Local News
For you information 1.48 many Cayman business are getting rid of there employees that have worked for them for many years offering them a new salary of what a filipino will work for and if you dont like it they still save with paying the compensation and getting rid of that employee. Oh…and I am referring to an example with that same supermarket and I have also applied to then 4 times and not even a response.You have no idea what is going on in Cayman society !
Instead of your thread name being sick of compalints it should be tired of being ignorant.
Whilst I think there are some Caymanians who are unemployable or do not really wish to work, there are also major firms who only advertise every quarter and use those advertisements to apply for all their permits. When someone Caymanian applies, they just ignore them. I have applied for jobs and never heard back, know that they have hired someone on a permit and I am a qualified Caymanian.
If you still belive ANYTHING that comes out of CIG I have some lake front property I would like to sel cheap. Contact me at Iamnotapirate.com.
The REAL question is how many of that 10% intend to remain jobless for as long as they can live off the UDP gowerment at the rest of our expense.
The Immigration Law has been amended so often it can't be counted the number of times to ensure that an expatriate 1. gets the job. 2. can stay as long as they want under the law in the job 3. they can move from job to job without any problem 4. they get to be annoited with Key Employee status which gives them the right to roam around the island working for up to 9 years then they can become a citizen 5. they can demand changes at any time and the UDP Govt. will give it to them 6. the Minister of Labour keeps voting his approval to all the amendments in the LA, but on the other hand can't even put his foot down and put a minimum wage that is in line with the high cost of living to aid his own citizens.
So, why is it that we want to keep the UDP Govt. in power again? I don't see why we should maintain and support genocide in this country one more election.
Since the Philipines has 7.2% unemployment rate as of 2012 why don't we terminate all the work permits for them and let them return home because at least they can find a job with a much lower unemployment rate.
Have you watched what is going on, every driver just about is a Filipino, all the fast food restaurants employ them, the grocery stores, I mean they are every where.
We have to put moratoriums in place otherwise we are going to be overrun by the Filipinos and I say that with all honesty, we have too many of them in this country along with the Jamaicans, but i prefer Jamaicans over Filipinos because we eat similar food and our cultures are similar so there that's my two pennies worth.
By all means don't stop there. Just get rid of any expat you see doing all the work in grand Cayman. Then Cayman would have what? a 75% unemployment. Keep the 2 cents. Your going to need it.
They wouldn’t be there if Caymanians would be willing to take those jobs….But from I here is that they don’t want that type of work. so what’s the problem….?
Typical racist pig. You should be arrested for that kind of bigoted behaviour. In any civilised country you would be, but ooops, we're in Cayman where you can do as you want and get away with it, AS LONG AS YOU'RE CAYMANIAN. Lets hope this sad little country with its perverse views are over run by expats, if only to dilute the disgusting nature of people like you.
Better still, lets move the Caymanians who hold such vile views off the island and leave this beautiful place to peolple who understand their good fortune and who are not hell bent on ruining it. Only one problem, no one wants them.
And what their doing now is marrying the caymanians
Yes, funny isn't it, dillute the gene pool even further, perhaps eventually someone will make sense and run this country properly. Don't hold your breath.
What an A$$! "i prefer Jamaicans over Filipinos because we eat similar food and our cultures are similar so there that's my two pennies worth" Hopefully your not employed with that sort of mentality!! I would hate to walk in an establishment and be greeted by someone so darn silly! Reallllly??? we eat similar food lol…stupidest thing I have heard in a while!
Just like any other country on this planet, Cayman has a certain population who is just not interested to work – and then there are the ones who really want to work but are not given a chance.
Ireland has an unemployment rate of 14.30% – so I guess they are also all lazy unemployable individuals with entitlement issues. Same goes for the 8.20% of unemployed people in the UK, 24.44% of unemployed in Spain, and the 8.10% in the USA.
I am sure, if they all would really want to work, they would be able to find a job. It's just odd however that there are also soooo many expats in those countries to do the "lower level jobs" when so many of their own country men remain unemployed.
Well, I guess it shows that lazy bums exist everywhere. What is sad however that on this blog people decide to paint all Caymanians with the same brush.
Amen!
The saddest thing of all is that many Caymanians fail to realize all of what you have said then go as far as to disgrace themselves by posting ignorant crap against their own people. Absolutely ridiculous sentiments that have clearly been influenced by the prejudice and narcissism of some of these posters.
Furthermore, when one refers to basic facts of the state of other economies one is labeled as biased, xenophobic and even racist.
Facts are facts – regardless of who they offend.
Only if they are based on truth and supported with evidence, not empty rantings by you whodatis.
Unfortunately the EU has warped the real unemployment figures through its open door policy to all EU citizens, including those from the former Iron Curtain countries. Ireland's figures would be considerably higher if all of the Irish 'travellers' who sponge off of the UK benefit system went home. However, the UK has a population of 60 million and appalling illegal immigration, the US a population of 250 million plus and the same immigration issues etc, etc…… Cayman has a population of 30,000 ish and under 3000 unemployed with draconian immigration laws, so what's your excuse? Answers on a sick note please.
Last month I advertised for a sale assistant — two adverts in the Compass and two weeks on ecay — Caymanians only need apply, CI$9.50/hr. Of the six applicants that applied — that's right, from the thousands of supposedly unemployed Caymanians we received just six applications — four of them simply did not turn up for their interview; no call, no apology, just couldn't be bothered to get out of bed, I suppose. Of the two interviewees that did attend, the first girl chewed gum throughout the interview and struggled to complete a single sentence of intelligible English. Fortunately, the second girl was poilite, well-spoken, and well-presented and we hired her. This is a real world example of what's actually going on. So, would someone like to try to explain to me why, when we have such a dreadful unemployment problem, we didn't get at least fifty Caymanian applicants?
You have only to look to the "premeir" Caymanian to see why there is a percieved unemployment problem here. The unemployables are takeing the jobs from the employable unemployed.
Wow…
That means 90 percent of our people are employed?
Thats probably why our economy is having such an economic boom…
or it could be all of those projects that Mac has been promising would start soon…
Immigration has no mandate to reduce work permits because 1] The government coffers relies on work permit fees, 2] Bush believes the island needs a population of around 100K to be sustainable, so permits will be graned with gay abandon, and 3]
. . . "I can’t see the Immigration people doing anything that would limit the number of expat residents. The Law has always accommodated (within the bounds of propriety- just!) the desire of ethnic Caymanians to own slaves. That’s why Work Permits are issued to employers, not to employees. Restricting migrants to one job each maximises the local population. You do the math. The Immigration Law and all its amendments (and the Caymanian Protection Law before it) were written by and for the local merchant-class. For them it was win-win: slavery as near as dammit, and the maximum number of bodies to sell things to. Indentured foreign labour keeps wages low for low-skilled Caymanian workers too. That's win-win-win. For the Immigration authorities, more Permits means more paper-shuffling, which in turn means a bigger bureaucratic empire."
– Gordon Barlow (2012)
The Caymanian ruling class is fully to blame for Caymanian unemployment.
If a Caymanian feels that he or she has been "sold down the river" then look no further than the Caymanian ruling class.
The Caymanian ruling class is the enemy of the Caymanian working class.
Expats are in Cayman because of Caymanian laws that were enacted for and by the Caymanian ruling class.
If Caymanians want work, start by electing Caymanians who will gut the current immigration laws and ban indentured slavery.
AMEN
Segmenting Caymanians into groups like that is utter nonsense.
That's the way comrade, power to the people. Lets bring in Fidel, he'll know how to equal things up. Ha Ha Ha!!!
There are many unemployable on this island. They can't handle a structured work environment with stipulated hours or worse…responsibility. HOWEVER, there are also people looking for work that can't compete with the benefit of indentured servitude that the current permit system provides to employers. You don't have to treat employees very well if you know it is extremely difficult for them to leave their jobs and stay on island. The playing field for Caymanians would be a lot more even if we were to change to a permit tied to industry but not employer. Recruiting costs of the employer could still be protected. Obviously this option is not popular with employers including Caymanian ones.
The rollover system backfired….If you have an expat in a white collar job it is easier to keep them and know you get seven years out of hard working expat in the hopes that they get PR.
Even if a Caymanian is qualified most employers would rather take the expat….and that is sad. We have good talent here, locals with overseas experience and local mortgages to pay, yet the big companies set the worse examples. Shame on our system!
Nothing in the rollover system expects permits to be granted anything more than year to year. It is a lack of enforcement by immigration that has led many falsely to believe you can stay for 7 years, whereas what the law actually is is ” you cannot ( generally) stay for more than 7 years. Blame the boards and the politicians, not rollover.
What's the big deal, I mean Mac still has a job doesn't he? The pay is not all that good and he gets very little appreciation for all his valiant efforts and the pension sucks (pun intended) but it IS a job right?
Man it is so hard to get a job!
The last one I had they made me turn up 5 days a week and then do all this crap while I was there! It was unbelievable.
I would get a new one but I just got a loan to buy this new leather couch and big screen tv and it’s not gonna watch itself ! Back to Judge Judy…
Sick Individual…find something more constuctive to do with your wasted time..
Lighten up buddy!
hope the loan was from Dart, then there will be public outrage if he tries to collect
Cayman it is time to face the facts about our people and our country. We must admit to ourselves that there is a genuine problem in our country where our people, yes, our very own people is the biggest problem here and not the expat workers. Before continuing I will admit that there are a few, a very small segment of our unemployed, that truely find themselves in a situation where they cannot find gainful employment in the field of there choice, but to say that they cannot find a job is hogwash. One can honestly say that “I am qualified in a certain area, field etc. and cannot find a job for which I am certfied to do” but to say you cannot find a job is an untruth. For if a person truely wanted to work and make an honest dollar, they would do any job, from garbage collection, to dishwasher, to working at a fast food restaurant, to waitressing, to bar tending, to cashier, to cleaning/domestic work, washing cars, even down to scrubbing floors one would do, IF one truely wanted a job.
The Caymanians will sit and complain about the lowly paid expat taking all the jobs, yet if you offered them the position they would refuse it, because they think they would be looked down upon. Admit it Cayman, it is not the expat that stands in our way, it is our own negativity and petty hatred towards others. We are truely our own worst enemy. We continue to hurt ourselves every time we bash the expats for it only breeds divide.
Stop the whining, get off your touché and get out there. Find a job at the car wash, find a job at burger king, KFC, Wendy’s. I am sure that Foster’s would love to reduce their work-permit fees and hire a Caymanian. And if you truely were interest in one specific job, approach the employer and offer your service for free, ask them to give you a trial period at your own expense to prove to them that you are truely interested, and have the desire to do the job. I am sure there are a lot of Local and foreign employers who would give you a shot if you were truely interested and proved yourself to be honest, hardworking, ambitious AND DEPENDABLE.
If a person was truely interested in and had a passion in something, nothing could or would stand in their way. We would go to the employer and say, Mr/Ms. So and so I really want to work in your establishment, i am willing to prove to you that I am serious about this, I will work for 1, 2,3 weeks, 1 month, 6 months, however long it takes to prove to you that I am serious about this. And if you are satisfied with me after that I will do my endeavor best to be the best employee that you have ever had. I will come to work every day, I will not call in sick for the slightest thing, I will not chat on my cell phone all day long, I will not whine about every single thing under the sun, I will always have a positive attitude, I will make you proud, I will make you wish you had ten more like me. I will give you my all, at all times, all day, everyday working day.
We have Caymanians that leave a job because ” I do not like my boss, I can’t stand her/him, I do not want to work with expats…, look ya, they wanted me to work overtime ya know…she want come and tell me what to do…oh no Bo Bo ….who she think she is…she think she better than me….this my country, I na taking orders from no body…. I was sick, my toe was hurting… I am carrying this to the extreme to say that, we complain about all things, we refuse to look at all things positive, like – i am so happy to be alive, to have breath in my body, to live and work in paradise, to have friends and family thank God that i was not born in Africa, where people are starving to death, or Cuba where people are unable to travel freely, or even our mother country the UK where we have to pay taxes (could not help but throw that in).
Caymanians what I am saying is, we are one of the luckiest people in the world, we live on a beautiful Island. Let’s appreciate for a change and not hate. Get up, pretend that you had absolutedly no one to take care of you, imagine you were on a deserted island and had to fend for yourself and had no one. Find a job, any job, stick to it, work hard until you can find something else better and more to your choice, it might take time, but you can achieve all things if you really want it. Stop playing the blame game of who’s fault it is. For you are hurting no one but yourselves.
In closing I will say – it is not the Governments job to find work for you, it is their job to provide you with opportunities which they are trying very hard to do. If you want anyone to blame, blame the persons out there who are attempting at all turns to stop projects i.e. port and hospital in east end, dock in George Towm, roads in West Bay, new business to the Island, calling investagations on investors giving monies to help people in need of losing their homes etc. For we need these projects for the people to find jobs and opportunities. As our population grows we need more then anything to grow investment in this country, for we cannot stop our people (Caymanians) not expats from having children and increasing the population. So we need to encourage outward and inward investment for the country to continue to grow. If we continue to bash the expats who will eventually get enough and leave or not come at all, all we are hurting is ourselves and no one else.
May God continue to Bless the Cayman Islands and the Caymanian people, including the expats who seek to make this country there home.
The most thoughtful, honest and intelligent post I have ever read. 100% spot on!
I never knew there were such negative feelings about ex-pats in your country. i am from Canada, not an impovrished country by any means, our employment rate is quite high, I have a very well paying job and live quite 'comfortably' (60k/yr), that being said I would pick garbage up to get by and live in a hut if that meant I was residing in your beautiful country. By reading some comments I think you are all getting caught up in what you dont have as opposed to thinking about what you do have. You all live in a virtual paradise. If you have a roof over your head and some food for your stomach, you should wake up with a smile and an appreciation of being alive somewhere so amazing!
Some interesting points have been raised but this conversation is in dire need of some balance.
I trust those that will offer up their snide remarks will bear in mind the reality of the unemployment situation in the USA, UK, Spain, Greece etc. (Over 25% of British under 25's are currently unemployed! In Spain I believe it is 1 in 3 – maybe even 50% by now.)
All of those nations have recently witnessed major nation-wide protests, riots, arson, demonstrations and anarchy as a result of the failed policies of their respective governments.
In a nutshell, over the past few decades politicians and "leaders" collectively decided, perhaps subconsciously in some instances, that the foundation upon which their great nations were built – hard, manual, physical labour e.g. manufacturing – is now worthless and "education" is the key to (personal) success.
Whereas that may be true for themselves, their families, and those within their immediate circle – that attitude has had a disastrous effect on the masses of the people in this world – regardless of country!
Such "lowly" jobs were phased out or sent overseas to "lowly" parts of the world and as a result so were the prospects of hundreds of millions of people – with the worst affected being the young and "inexperienced".
(E.g. Try finding a human bank cashier in the UK or Europe today. The majority of transactions are doneby machines now … even real-time CASH DEPOSITS! Today you have to go specialist branches for such (humanised) services … unless of course you happen to live in the lower-income areas of the city / country.)
Here in Cayman, as we have never had a strong presence of argriculture or manufacturing, we have not seen a phenomenon of "out-sourcing" of jobs and services, but instead we have seen one of the "in-sourcing" of cheap labour … unfortunately, the results are the same.
The western model of "government" and "progress" has fantastically failed and interestingly, it was their biggest and brightest at the controls for all this time. So much for all that "education is the key" mumbo-jumbo huh?
Yes, education is the key on an individual basis, however, when we place arrogant educated individuals at the helm of "S.S. Mankind" we are left with the mess that is facing the (western) world today.
Adding to the local situation is that of prejudice, good old classic Western "racism", glass ceilings, extra-Caymanian patriotism, local (Caymanian) greed, callous disregard for the welfare of others … but of course these particular issues will be outrightly rejected by many readers.
Lastly, we cannot overlook the fact that many westerners – not solely "Caymanians", as a well traveled and non-prejudiced individual will understand that this is an issue in many nations today – as a result of the official stance and attitude by way of their governments and leaders consider certain jobs to be below them. A sense of entitlement is the greatest threat to our young people today. E.g. The 2011 nationwide riots of the UK in particular. (The hottest items on those days were mobile phones, TV's, video games, stereos and designer clothing! The young and White majority of rioters in Manchester, Liverpool, Salford etc. were not very concerned about the fate of young, Black Mark Duggan from Tottenham, London – no, they were more concerned about getting their hands on the latest Iphone.)
However, this issue is compounded by the shameful remuneration attached to certain jobs. (This is where the ever-declining reality of the western economic / banking system comes into play but that issue is too complex to delve into at the moment.)
The "system" that surrounds us all was not designed with the majority of people in mind – instead it was created by those at the top for those at the top.
It is one that dictates an honest, tax-paying, and hardworking bus driver, construction worker, or plumber should never enjoy the peace and respect of owning his or her own home.
Absolutely shameful in my opinion.
The fact remains that the "highly educated" in society has always been and will always be outnumbered by the "less-educated".
I believe that there is much room for movement between the incomes of the business owners / company (firm) directors and that of the average worker within our local environment.
We are facing a growing number of socioeconomic issues in this tiny country and if something is not done we will all be going down with this ship.
It makes absolutely no sense for my parents to have witnessed their children grow up in a much improved environment that they could have never dreamt possible, for me to now be greatly concerned about the ever decreasing prospects for not only my children but even my generation.
Furthermore, even if myself and my own are doing well, but the majority of my friends and extended family are suffering – in my opinion that is a failure on the part of my society as a whole. I take no pleasure in such a reality.
It only takes a clear and open mind to see where we are going wrong. Hopefully we will be able to learn from the mistakes of other "greater" countries and get our situation back on the right track.
However, this will require much effort on the part of not only our government but the local employers, workers, residents and parents as well.
– Whodatis
Whodatis, totally agree with your article for most part and that:
""Adding to the local situation is that of prejudice, good old classic Western "racism", glass ceilings, extra-Caymanian patriotism, local (Caymanian) greed, callous disregard for the welfare of others … but of course these particular issues will be outrightly rejected by many readers."
However, have you really listened, spoke to any of those in construction, plumbing etc; especially those who have recently moved to Cayman? Trust me, in my opinion there are many 'skilled, unskilled workers' with their own mortgage free homes, several lots of land in Cayman and homes in their native countries. so again, maybe a distinction between native Caymanians and others is crucial for really understanding this problem. It is not only those with top positions doing better.
So to say….."It is one that dictates an honest, tax-paying, and hardworking bus driver, construction worker, or plumber should never enjoy the peace and respect of owning his or her own home." may be too general a statement when probably less than 10% 'native Caymanians are in these professions and unlikely to be the success stories. Technically yes we have to include the status holders, who have those jobs and many are allowed flexible schedules to keep their secure civil service posts too.
think we'll see the 'mess' when the serious demand is made on pensions, healthcare and other social service programmes several years from now, hope you're willing to pay for all the new hardworking Caymanians.
Are you serious, NATIVE CAYMANIANS, there are no such people? You are all immigrants of mixed race and backgrounds, unless you can trace your direct lineage to the original settlers without racial dilution. And even then, you are not NATIVES just decendants. These islands were only lightly populated up until comparitively recent times, the growth came from further immigration and inter marriage between new arrivals. It would be like calling the white population of Australia, native Australians. We all know that Native Australians are Aboriginals as we do that Native Americans are the American Indians, not the subsequent settlers or immigrants.
You have no native Caymanian genetic trace, only a mix of races/cultures and that does not constitute a NATIVE population or indiginous peoples. So the fact is that you are ALL expats from one source or another, how's the hypocracy feeling now?
All too true, Whodatis!
Most forward thinking commentators tolerate or ignore your verbal diahorrea and bizarre conspiracy theories within the Cayman Islands. Because we, as residents, can actually see what is going on in this country and the actions and attitudes of those who live here, whether positive or negatively inclined. However, surfing the internet and spouting irrelevent garbage about a country you obviously hate will not wash with those who know much better and actually lived through those events.
Your stupid and racially biased comment in regard to 'young, Black Mark Duggan' was disgraceful. Duggan was actually of mixed race NOT black and was a known and active gangster who carried firearms to enforce his cowardly will on innocents and criminals alike. His colour should not be the issue, his lifestyle and behaviour absolutely should be and his death, although regrettable, was of his own making. 'The young and White majority of rioters' is also a racially aggrevating comment that is fundamentally untrue. As someone who was born and breed in Croydon, South London and witnessed some of the worst examples of rioting in the country, I can state categorically that the vast majority of rioters that night were of Afro-Caribbean and Asian decent. All issues relating to firearms were commited by the same and the murder of a young black rioter was attributed to a rival gang of black youths.
Take a look at the wanted posters that went up on TV and the internet after the rioting. There weren't that many white faces looking back at us, a fact lost on the apologists for that August week in 2010.
It is true that some of the participants were indeed white or members of other racial groups. That was only to be expected when the scum of white society look up to the gangster stereotypes that have corrupted suburban and city life in the UK. If you really knew your subject and you obviously don't, you would know that all of the towns and city's that you have quoted in your diatribe are well known in the UK for their racial tensions and high immigrant populations. White's are out numbered in many of these areas and completely non-existent in others, so don't try and pull the race card on those who really understand what it's like to live in a racially divided society and where you are definately a minority in the crowd.
They say that we should learn from our mistakes, well, as a UK citizen I believe we are. We have finally woken tothe fact that we have an immoral and feral underclass at work in our midst. We have identified that for too long we have aplogised for history and the past deeds of our ancestors. Those people who came from around the world to populate our city's came for a better life and most of them found it. Unfortunately, their grandchildren have grown up on a diet of left wing propaganda and apologist agendas, consequently believing that they have an entitlement without responsibility. Most of the idiots taking part in those riots where in employment, with a national minimum wage of CI$13.00 an hour, not exactly poor by UK standards. It was their greed and anti social behaviour that was to blame, not their income or that of highly skilled businessmen. It is just another example of blaming everyone else for the behaviour of a few, they are the ones who are wrong and they should pay the price.
And in regard to your blinkered view of cause and effect, these delinquents think more about gangster rappers and celebrity than they do about bankers and others who get up and actually do a days work. Most of them couldn't spell 'shameful remuneration', let alone understand what it means.
Sorry Whodatis, you've got it so wrong this time buddy. You've spouted off about a subject that you have no experience of and a country of which you clearly have no understanding. Your anti colonial rantings are normally amusing and benial, however if you think that blaming the UK for all of Cayman's problems is the way to achieve respectability, you are delusional. Yes, the UK has made mistakes, but we are a large population with many of the social issues found in most developed country's around the world. There is no panacea for all ills, you just have to keep learning and taking advise from those who are wiser, even if you have to swallow your pride.
The UK has nothing to apologise for and nothing to be ashamed of. We are a proud nation and a truly great country, with a very long history and rich culture that is the envy of the world. And frankly, we don't care what you think. We will be out of recession and will have reduced our deficit years before Cayman gets its act together. If you spent more time listening instead of moaning, you might learn something and get this country back on its feet. One things for sure, like the UK you will have to take a look deep inside and confront your preconceived and misguided notions of nationhood.
Instead of indulging in your persistant whinging and persecution complex, perhaps you could give the world your highly prized socio-economic and fiscal package that will cure Cayman for ever. But that's the point, you don't have one and you never will, so put up or shut up.
So if so many Caymanians have there minds and hopes set high- why encourage our education and go to college? Just teach us our 123 and abc, mathenatics, written english and then set a diploma in our hand.
hmmmm…… My parents raised me in a nice home with my own room and then i go to school, university come back home to get a minimum wage and shack up with 6-8 other people working on shifts. Now that something to look forward too. Cayman is one of the only countries i see a foreigner come in and get a express permit approved in 24hrs.
Ahh shame, obviously didn't get the right degree then. If the demand is there, why shouldn't a permit be issued in 24 hours, must be that your qualifications weren't needed eh? With so many spelling and grammatical errors within your comment, you should definately continue with that education or you'll never get that top job that you feel you are so entitled to as a Caymanian.
The figure is much higher as a few hundred Caymanians did not register with the labour board. I have sent out over 80 applications and heard back from 4 in the last 3 years.
Its either no credentials and when you do , then the excuse is you have no experience. Only to be interviewed and disappointed as it was a tactic to renew a work permit. There are many Caymanians out there who are just lazy,no work ethic and not qualified and we decent job seekers suffer as we are labeled.
Yeah right. They don't even know how much money the country has, there are no accounts and it took 2 years to publish the census. Why should we believe this figure either?
I will get many thumbs down for this comment but the REAL problem here is that you have Caymanians looking for work however their expectations with salary, shifts etc are unreal. They come out of school and want to make $3K per month. they cant work nights, holidays or weekends. They constantly call in sick with every excuse in the book. They spend countless minutes on their cell phones. They have a member of the opposite sex disrupting them at the workplace and the list goes on. I acknowledge that there are those persons out there who are GENUINELY looking work- however their positive demeanor is over-shadowed by the negativity above. Why would I hire a Caymanian at $10 an hour and know that I will have constant issues with him versus me hiring an expat for $5 an hour and I know that my job is going to get done- it is simple economics. The other issues here is that the DER Job Placement Unit needs to be tagged with Immigration as the right hand has no clue what the left hand is writing.
I'll give you a thumbs up, because that is the way it is. Very sad.
That's what happens if you pay someone to sit on their butt all day, drink beer and go fishing. Stop all welfare for those who refuse to take a position appropriate to their education, experience and ability. Most of those unemployed are unemployable due to poor education, drink and drug abuse, criminal behaviour and a complete lack of motivation or moral fibre. Expats aren't to blame for an obvious gap in your employment requirement, nor are the multi-nationals that utilise Cayman's services. How is it that with some of the most draconian immigaration laws on the planet and a strict requirement that Caymanians should be given first refusal at any interview, results in 3000 people out of work? I'll tell you why, it's because they never appied in the first place as most of the service industry in this country is poorly paid and so completely reliant on expat labour who work hard and don't have such an over inflated opinion of themselves. I'd rather be served by someone who has a strong work ethic and the courage to travel half way around the world to seek employment than a whinging Caymanian who can't get out of bed in the morning, turns up when they feel like it and thinks the world owes them a living. Stop blaming everyone else for your own inadequate policies and attitudes, the jobs are there, where are you?
Couldnt have put it better myself.
Best regards,
A Caymanian
Remember the young lady who refused to work at the Ritz because her workspace was too small.!!
You hit the nail on the head. I have this donut that works for me and he is exactly like that.
So lets see the Immigration department says they dealt with some 19,000 work permits last year. And yet we have 10% unemployment Caymanians.
Now I will admit that we have some Caymanians that are lazy that applies to all people.
I will admit that we have Caymanians that are not educationaly qualified to command some jobs.
However it seems as if a number of you are saying that all caymanians are this way which is completly untrue. It satisfies your arguement.
Now unless 19,000 helpers needed their work permits renewed at once and because the number of work permits is listed for an entire year it would be fair to say that the 19,000 work permits represents a spectrum of jobs in the Cayman Islands. And yet we have such a high precentage approved.
Our problem here has always been the Immigration department. So when these companies put down on the work permits that they tried to get Caymanians you believe them and when they say that they are training a caymainian for the job you believe them.
Gee I have a wonderful house lot for your new Hurricane proof home out on the reef.
Wake up
No, the problem is you and the kind of dumb theories you preach.
No, it doesn't suit our argument, its our experience and widely known amongst employers.You have a cultural problem that needs attention, until then you need expats, like it or not.
Let me give you some shocking news!! I am Caymanian and in 2010 – 2011 I was unemployed for almost 6 months. I submitted probably 45 resumes and secured some interviews but nothing. In at least two instances I interviewed and had really high hopes only to be let down. In these two instances the positions were given to expats hired on permits. So what else is new? I dont have anything about anyone in the expat workforce but c'mon what were the people at Immigration thinking??? I called them and let them know what was happening and they asked me to send them my resume and copies of the applications. I never heard another thing. The unemployment problem starts with my own people, and they are the one's putting through permits for expats instead of hiring qualified locals. What's the problem? I had to seak help from DCS and was qualified for some help on rent but nothing else. I asked them if I could get on CINICO to be able to pay for my medication and their reply was that I couldnt because I was "employable". What a joke this place has become.
Caymanian employers prefer expat employees because the employer has much more control over an expat as compared to a Caymanian.
If an expat gets out of line, the employer can pull the work permit and ship the expat home; problem solved with no drama hangover.
15.44, You have a valid point, but you can also argue that when a company employs a Caymanian, they benefit by cutting out the stress with Immigration, and avoid the high permit fees. I was in business in Cayman for 25 years, and managed to employ mostly Caymanians. The problems start when your company requires specific skills, and the Immigration Department prevents you from hiring the person of choice. Many times now the Labour Office sends over potential employees who have absolutely no clue how they think might benefit your business. There is also a destructive and unattractive entitlement attitude with a few, but there are also many awsome Caymanians, who will never want for a job, because they have good work ethics and have prepared themselveds to be useful in the real-world workplace.
So why didn't you work in a bar or serve tables to avoid being out of work, too menial for you? And that's my point exactly, there is work, but many Caymanians think are too smart to consider working in the real world. If you really wanted to work whilst you were unemployed from your chosen field, then you'll have to climb down off your throne and just do it. Just like the Philipinos, Jamaicans and Hondurans do to serve you, or do you believe you have a right to be served but not to serve?
I live in the U.S. In 2006, I was out of work. BTW, I have my Master's degree and was making over 70,000 when I lost my job. I cried for a week and then I got off my butt and worked 3 horrible, below "my standard" jobs so that I could continue to pay my mortgage, my heating bills, feed myself etc. I was not too proud. I continued to job search while working those 3 jobs and that continued for almost 10 months. Was I happy? no. Was I paying my bills? Yes. I am now in a job, once again, in my career field. I had to suffer some loss in pride during those months, but I was still able to support myself. Jobs are out there, you just have to be able to decide what you want to do/be in life and when things get a bit tough…you have to get tougher.
No such thing as Unemployment. If you want to work you will find work. I'll bet most of the unemployed are working but claiming welfare from the Gov.
Maybe it should be checked out, How many jobs have the unemployed actualy applied for or shown up for interview?
No effort, No Gov benifits. Simple!
They will then be converted from welfare bums to criminals. One way or another, people must survive.
While you are all playing the blame game Cayman could well simply have the same problem as many other Caribbean countries – unqualified and even some apparently well-qualified citizens who can't spell or do basic math let alone hold down any sort of job.
Is this really 10% unemployed or 10% unemployable?
With yesterday's headlines in the Compass about 19,000 permits granted, I have to ask the questions:
Is this Government and the Immigration Dept. intentionally aligned against our Caymanian workforce? How can we have 2,000 or more (some not yet registered because it seems to be a futile exercise) Caymanians be out of work yet 19,000 more expatriates are granted permits? Are our leaders so blatantly greedy for work permit fees that it doesn't affect them the slightest – does not tick their consciences even a tiny, little bit – to see their own suffering lack and loss while the foreigners in our midst have parties every week to celebrate their well-being and success?
Caymanians have been known traditionally – wherever in this world they lived and worked – as industrious, hard-working, peaceful, go-the-extra-mile people. If statistics could be taken, and all participants tell the truth, it would be found, I dare say, that 99% of those now unemployed are still industrious, hard-working and dedicated people. They are not lazy, not sitting under the coconut tree waiting for the coconuts to fall! So why are the Government, Immigration and Employment Dept. not aggressively trying to encourage employers to hire Caymanians – and train or re-train them, whatever the need might be – instead of making it so inviting and easy for them to hire expatriates? I'm not anti-expatriate but for-Caymanians first. We need some of the expatriates and the employers and owners who are themselves expatriates, but not in the huge numbers as we have now, to the detriment and disadvantage of committed, hard-working Caymanians!
It appears the Government needs to grant permits in order to generate the revenues needed to pay the costs of running our country. Granting work permits is one of the few ways Governmentis generating revenue.
This is a good reason why we need to consider widening the tax base here, like it or not. In this particular case, if Government revenues included payroll tax, there would no longer be a dependency on work permit fees alone. My two cents.
Look outside any bar and you'll see plenty of those hard working Caymanians drinking beer, playing dominoes and trying to free load off of tourists. Get real, you have cultural and philosophical issues that need urget attention, to say nothing of your inept government policy on roll over. Stop whining and get employable.
The figure is much lower once you take out the drunks, the crackheads and the criminals.
I know that % cant be right…. or maybe its just me, but i feel there is a lot more caymanian unemployed than that.
by the way, wasnt a article in the papers stating that over 90% of workpermits got approved last year. over 19,000 permits!!! come on caymanian, i'm sure your fellow caymanian cant do some of those jobs.
tourist come here and they meet expats from the taxi,bus drivers, bell men, receptionist, bank tellers, cashiers at stores (even small corner stores in the districts). what a losing battle we as caymanians are facing.
… And the BSP Board is approving 98 percent of permits.
It's been said a million times but it bears repeating again.
There will continue to be unemployed Caymanians for as long as there is an expectation among Caymanians that working in tourism or service is beneath them, and they are entitled, through their passport alone, to a 6-figure job in a bank without having to worry about getting any educational qualifications.
Unemployment in the Cayman Islands is voluntary.
The problem with not getting into the service industry is their own attitudes. Kissing your teeth, not having a proper grasp of the English language, bad manners etc all plays a part.
I have friends who work in bars, restauarants etc and go home with $250 cash MINIMUM each and every night / day they work plus the $5hr they make as salary at the end of the month.
Pretty good pay if you ask me and probably one of the easisest jobs in the world.
A Caymanaian.
Where I work the worst employees are Caymanians. Lazy, uninterested in working hard and always off "sick" Expat workers know they have to work hard to keep their job so they do! Why do Caymanians always blame the expats for all their problems?
It's the same where I work as well. But I am also Caymanian and am not like them. And neither are any of my friends. Stereotypes don't help anyone solve problems and they sure as hell don't motivate those going against the grain. My problems are my own, as are yours. Stop with the boxes. Let's just get along and see if there's a way to be progressive from our own angle when we can.
Cheers to the long weekend. Some of us really need it!
Plain and simple – not enough jobs because government continues to thwart businesses and companies by their anti-business regulations and hikes in fees. The Caymanian market is slows down because the present government is relying on major projects instead to beef it up, and these projects are alliances between government a few private entities. That should never be. Government should never treat one private entity better than the next. So we are seeing the results.
When Elio was on Rooster he gave Alden hell about unemployment and why is it that he is now in power and there are still 10% unemployed?
Ask why the PPM didn't support "jobs for caymanian only"
Anon 10:59
But isnt Ellio the negotiator for the port with the mega jobs, and the Caymanians are tearing him apart with all the BS. some even saying he not worthy of what he is doing? you can't have you cake and eat it too. Remember Alden gave the 150 Million dollar project to one foreign company.
"…yeears…"
"…even ig qualified."
Professional positions require people who can proof read their own work.
Or simply use spellcheck?
Voluntary unemployment……that's the problem.
They are without Jobs because they are LAZY and will go no where! Besides, they make it harder for those who do have jobs. They should organize free fights to Panama and Jamaica, and drop them of there where they can moan and complain.
Ten percentage is very significant amount and it will continue to escalate if Immigration does not take a firm stance with local companies/organizations and comprehensively review all work permit applications when they are submitted. For example when you go to places like Cost u less it is obvious that 95% of their staff (cashiers, supervisors and warehouse staff) are foreign nationals who unfortunately dont even have good comand of the english language. Let's face it these posts are not complicated nor do they require a lot of qualifications or training therefore they could easily be filled by Caymanians.
Caymanians need to become more aggressive and pursue these jobs. Times are hard but we need to ensure our people get the opportunity to make a honest living.
But do Caymanians want to do it?
Show me one Caymanian that would want that job at Cost U Less. the problem is that a lot of unemployed Caymanians have their sights set to high and are not willing to work at most of the jobs filled by expats and are not qualified to fill the ones they want. Even the legal graduates, graduating from law school does not mean you have the skills to be a good lawyer.Are they willing to start from the. Ottom and work their way up or do they feel they should start at the top because they are Caymanian.
why not open yourselves up to opportunities abroad get experience on come back in force.
You still talk as if there is not any government initiated laws already in place to insure that it is easier and WAYmore cost effective to hire a qualified, experianced and trained Caymanian over an expat. Why is that? Same reason employers still hire more expensive expats over cheaper Caymanians? How about if Caymanians take a firm stance and start to show Caymanian employers that they can do the jobs just as well as an expat can.
The problem is that Caymanians do NOT pursue these jobs and yes I am Caymanian. Ask anyone who is in the HR field or in business what it is like to try and get Caymanians to come out and apply for what they consider "low level" jobs that require working beyond 9 to 5 Monday through Friday, it is virtually impossible. This shouldn't be but it is a fact of life. I work in the private sector and while our average of Cayman to ExPat is much much better than many we still struggle to get Caymanians to apply for positions that offer equal pay and equal money and a career path. It is a simple fact, if you are not a finance firm or a law firm you struggle.
There are about 6 persons that have not been able to get articles in the legal profession. Yet the Government has found it fit to draft legislation designed to regulate the conduct of the profession to force firms to hire them, force their employment and promotion to partnership. This seems odd given there are over 2000 that are unemployed in Cayman! This makes me think that this particular legislation and war against the legal profession is based on nothing more than a vendetta and fueled by the hope of being able to declare from a political platform their progress in passing this legislation. What progress? There are 2000 unemployed in Cayman and 1 in 6 has never had a job! Let’s not forget at some point this government tried to exempt ALL lawyers in the major firms from the rollover policy. What a sudden shift in policy?It’s time to move from personal agendas and do what’s really good for Cayman. Time to focus on your people in a meaningful way and give our young men and women an image they can beinspired by and aspire to.
They have not the slightest idea of who is unemployed….ESO is working probably off the 10-10-10 census figures! And big back don't know what he is talking about so he believes anything and signs and oks everything that is put in front of him! and he could care less….his cup is full and he is drinking from his saucer that is also overflowing – cause his hands are clean and his heart is pure the blessings keep coming in!
the vast majority of caymanians are unemployed through their own choice…..
The blame is never on those who want cheap labour, i guess you got a job tied up where you came from, good luck when the fun starts.
Or are unemployable…..
…or prior choices.
When I got here twenty yeears ago we had zero unemployment. The rollover has backfired and these figures prove it. Why give a Caymanian a chance when you have three years left before rolling an ex-pat? Employers figure they will stick with what they have and hang on for as long as they can before hiring local.
Also, the wind has changed. It used to be a bonus to find a qualified Caymanian with a college degree, they would be gobbled up. Now, dozens of Caymanians with degrees and experience (or married to Caymanians) are passed by as big companies justify their foreign workforce.
Until Immigration ENFORCES and fines some of our biggest and best known players, this problem will not be solved.
The job applications are "in" but the corporate big boys do not take it seriously and unless you know the HE manager you don't stand a chance.
Sad day for us, but the truth is we are being passed by…even ig qualified.