Labor Shortage Amidst 2.1% Unemployment Rate

Employers nationwide, especially in the agro-sector, are facing a growing labor shortage. Despite the Briceño administration’s claim of a two-point-one percent unemployment rate, there are many unfilled vacancies. Some blame the Business Process Outsourcing sector for this issue. Today, we asked B.C.C.I. Vice President Jody Williams about it, and he mentioned there’s a significant shift happening in Belize’s labor market.

 

Jody Williams, Vice-President, B.C.C.I.

“There is a big paradigm shift when it comes to labor in Belize. There is that switch. Young, able persons are going to call centers. The thing is that call centers have become the norm in Belize. We have seen many openings up in many districts, even down south as well. It is becoming prevalent, but sometimes we are looking for farmers. We are looking for persons to go out in the field. There are so many different jobs but we cant find persons and we cant bring in persons form outside as well like before. So in our industry when it comes to agriculture, agro-processing, it is hard to find those persons who will go out to farm, to make crops we need and the able persons, with those skills they prefer to go to Ready Call. We see that trend happening.”