Jul 16, 2026
2 min read
More than 500 people have landed jobs through the national job bank so far in 2026, out of 1,900 registrants, Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning Keoma Griffith revealed on Wednesday, as he outlined efforts to close the labour market gap during an engagement with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).
As Guyana continues to navigate the unprecedented rate of development, particularly with the construction boom and the growth of businesses, the issue of the labour market gap remains a key concern that the GCCI is seeking to address through its advocacy efforts.
The meeting, chaired by Councillor and Executive Member Delmar Walcott, saw Griffith interact with members to address their concerns.
"The GCCI is a very, very crucial partner and stakeholder in development. The private sector is very important in the work that we do," the minister said as he candidly responded to concerns related to the labour shortage. He added, "We are doing certain things to try to bridge that gap and to allay some of the difficulties that we have been experiencing as it pertains to labour," noting that these initiatives include increasing awareness among young people on technical skills that are in demand.
With regard to the issues surrounding migrant employees, the minister urged employers to ensure their workers follow the procedures prescribed by law as it relates to work permits.
Griffith also provided insight into the national job bank, which connects employers to potential employees. This, he said, ties into the manpower planning element of his portfolio.
"We are currently engaging some of our partners, the Bureau of Statistics and other stakeholders, to understand what is happening on the ground, where there is overlap, where there is shortage.
We are hoping out of this engagement as well, we can collaborate with the Ministry of Education to streamline how our people are educated so that the kind of programmes that they pursue will offer them the kind of jobs that we have," he said.
The chamber said it remains committed to fostering these crucial discussions that play a vital role in the advancement of the business landscape and Guyana's development.
