Ascension : Press Release - Visit of Labour Market Economist
Submitted by The Islander (Ascension Island Government) 27.11.2008 (Article Archived on 11.12.2008)

A Labour Market Economist is visiting St Helena until 15 December 2008 to study and make recommendations concerning the Island’s current and prospective labour market.

A Labour Market Economist is visiting St Helena until 15 December 2008 to study and make recommendations concerning the Island’s current and prospective labour market.

The visit of Dr William House is being funded by the Department For International Development, as part of the Public Sector Modernisation Programme. Dr House will consider issues including the Island’s population and labour force, statistical data bases, the limitations on natural resources and produce, the size of the domestic market, and skills shortage in the pre- and post-access periods.

The Chief Secretary, Andrew Wells said that St Helena must be able to manage all of these challenges if the island is to prosper once air access is introduced. “We should address the problems now rather than later” he said.

As part of his work, Dr House will look at where the Island lacks the necessary skills, how it recruits from overseas, how it encourages the return of Saints, and how it might import foreign labour as well as how visas are processed. He will also look at the wages that are paid to Government employees and the private sector and whether the Saint workforce has the required skills that will be needed once air access is introduced. He will also consider the capacity of SHG to deal with the labour issues it is facing.

As well as looking at long-term labour market issues, Dr House will make recommendations on how St Helena can improve in the short term, particularly in regards to staff retention and increasing productivity within SHG.

Public Relations/Information Office

Office of the Chief Secretary

25 November 2008