DESPITE THE downturn in the economy, local training and placement professionals have identified areas in which demand for skilled/professional workers remains strong.

Diane Lowe, University of Technology placement officer, reports there is demand for jobs in accounting, finance and the building construction sector. Nurses and pharmacists also readily get jobs, she added.

According to Tom McArdle, HEART Trust/NTA senior director for planning and project development, there is strong demand for certified construction workers, trainers and teachers, technicians, retail sales workers, drivers and dispatchers, health-care workers and customer service workers. HEART Trust/NTA, he says, has been training persons to meet the demand for carpenters, plumbers and welders.

"The local job market is moving towards a post-secondary and tertiary profile for its requirements, meaning workers need a reasonable secondary set of qualifications along with technical and vocational or professional training," says McArdle. The local economy "almost always needs barbers and auto mechanics, clerical workers, household workers, plumbers and website designers", he adds.

Highly favoured

McArdle argues that "as labour markets experience more distress, the more qualified are even more highly favoured." He points to the demand for labour overseas which includes a market for agricultural and hospitality workers, teachers, health-care professionals, mechanics and technicians.

In the meantime, Labour Minister Pearnel Charles has declared that there was no freeze on hiring in the government sector. "I know of no employment freeze. The problem is getting trained workers," he said. Vacancies in the government sector include the Ministry of Finance's revenue division, which is seeking to improve efficiencies by streamlining and upgrading its services. Many of these jobs are customer service-related, said a government official, who did not wish to be named.

In other ministries, there are vacancies at the clerical level through middle management. However, The Gleaner was informed that some 85 per cent of vacancies are expected to be filled from within the government service itself.

According to Jacqueline Hinkson, chief personnel officer at the Office of the Services Commissions, "we may go outside for highly specialised personnel, but in general central government vacancies are circularised throughout the government sector and filled from within".