Good day to members of the media and the listening public.

It is often said that our young people are our most precious resource. They are the future of our country. This Government has committed to and will bring about changes for the benefit of our youth.

As highlighted in the 2021 Speech from the Throne and the Economic Recovery Plan, the Government made a commitment to address youth unemployment by facilitating greater opportunities and educational pathways for all young Bermudians between 18 to 26 years old.

Therefore, I am pleased to announce that the Ministry of Economy and Labour, in collaboration with several other Government Departments and youth-led organisations, is launching the National Youth Employment Strategy. The comprehensive strategy will ensure that our young people are prepared for the present and future world of work.

Currently, many of our young people are pursuing full-time tertiary education. However, a larger number of educated young Bermudian job seekers have yet to secure employment. Through research and consultation, we have identified the most common reasons for youth unemployment include:

• A lack of job opportunities for young people
• Lacking the experience required by employers
• Limited access to resources
• Lack of opportunities for less experienced job seekers.
• Career choice uncertainty; and,
• Holding qualifications and skill sets that do not meet the needs of employers.

Considering these challenges, the Ministry of Economy and Labour, working alongside public and private stakeholders and youth organisations, will pool our resources to strategically address the barriers that youth face.

We must work to ensure that present and future generations of Bermudians have the tools and opportunity to succeed in their home country.

The Youth Employment Strategy aims to synergise all stakeholders and leverage existing mechanisms in place to prepare our young people for career and financial success. And in so doing, we will achieve the following nine goals.

GOAL #1 strives to ensure that young Bermudians are suitably qualified and positioned to take advantage of job opportunities within the local labour market. This will be achieved by increasing local training opportunities and promoting pathways to securing employment.

GOAL #2 aims to increase access to young people transitioning into the workplace by expanding career support services from high school to early employment.

GOAL #3 will enrich the pool of local talent by supporting, promoting, and encouraging Bermudians to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, otherwise known as STEAM.

GOAL #4 will ensure that a greater number of young people receive relevant work experience and better prepare them for gainful employment through the expansion of apprenticeships and internship opportunities.

GOAL #5 aims to increase public access to the relevant labour market information and career opportunities.

GOAL #6 is to encourage and foster the development of future business owners in our community, especially amongst our young people, by supporting and promoting youth entrepreneurship.

GOAL #7 aims to improve pathways to employment and promote support services for vulnerable youth.

GOAL #8 will encourage young employees to realise their social and economic potential. The eighth goal is to revise policies to improve social protection for young people.

Lastly, GOAL #9. The ninth and final goal is to facilitate the repatriation of young Bermudians by encouraging them to return home to work, live, and participate in the local economy.

Over the past few decades, many Bermudians have emigrated to other parts of the world, searching for job opportunities and a lower cost of living. While this is somewhat normal, we can and must minimise the number of locals leaving.

The Department of Workforce Development will spearhead the implementation of the National Youth Employment Strategy. The Department will also work collaboratively with private industry to leverage resources for the successful implementation of the strategy.

During the consultation process, our internal and external stakeholders indicated they are excited and willing to support the development and launch of the Youth Employment Strategy. Some of the work to be completed by the Department include modifications to the Bermuda Job Board, which allows the youth to register for career opportunities, and executing the career mapping process.

In closing, this Government remains committed to providing opportunities for young Bermudians so that they may develop the ability and desire to guide and lead our country's path into the future.

I urge everyone to review Bermuda's Youth Employment Strategy, available online at the Ministry of Economy and Labour at https://www.gov.bm/ministry/economy-and-labour

Thank you.