CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands – December 1, 2021 - The Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority (VIEDA), the lead organization for economic development in the U.S. Virgin Islands, announces that is sponsoring one of two webinars in the webinar series, the "2022 Workforce Guide Webinar Series" hosted by the Site Selection Magazine and Conway Data, Inc. on December 1st and 8th, 2021. The USVI business community and the general public are invited to join this virtual event.
Site Selection Magazine will host the webinar titled, “Trending Topics in Workforce Development & Communities Leading the Way” on Wednesday, December 1, 2021. This is part of a series of marketing through Site Selection Magazine from November 2021 – March 2022.
Gary Molloy, Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Dept. of Labor and the Vice Chair of the VIEDA Governing Board, will be a panelist for the discussion during the webinar. This webinar series will focus on how communities have used successful workforce development programs to drive economic development. Register for, or learn more about, the upcoming 2022 Workforce Guide Webinar Series here.
“Workforce development is extremely essential for progress, especially during this time of radical change in employment shifts, developing strategies to rebuild economic infrastructures and transforming policies to enhance community resilience in the event of natural disasters,” said VIEDA CEO Wayne L. Biggs, Jr. “Nurturing, recruiting, and retaining talent and skillsets for the workforce can only enrich our quality of life here in the U.S. Virgin Islands and in the United States as we move through this pandemic and prepare for our economic future,” added CEO Biggs.
Workforce initiatives through the Virgin Islands Department of Labor include the Skills for Today Program, the V.I. State Apprenticeship Council (VISAC) that is charged with setting the foundation for specialized training programs in the Territory, career opportunities with the Government of the VI, and many others.
As of December 1st, the top three industries with the highest advertised jobs are Health Care and Social Assistance, Public Administration, and Accommodation and Food Services with more than 100 job openings in each industry category (Source: VI Dept of Labor website under Job Openings Stats and Labor Market Facts followed by Information About Advertised Jobs). These industries are in alignment with Vision 2040’s Targeted Sectors such as Agribusiness, Health Sciences, Research & Development, and V.I.-Style Tourism; and the plan's Aspirational Goals 1, 3 and 8 (Increased locally-sourced food, healthcare and health sciences, extended stay visits and authentic experiences).
In early October 2021, the Honorable Albert Bryan, Jr., Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, hosted the second annual Governor’s Workforce Summit 2021 throughout the Territory in partnership with the VIDOL.