THE number of non-locally qualified workers in the Island has been decreasing since 2003, the Housing Minister said as he repeated that changes in the Housing regulations would not fuel population growth.
Senator Terry Le Main said that Housing policy still worked effectively to safeguard the interests of local people.
He said that last year 83% of the workforce had been in Jersey for more than five years - and were therefore locally qualified - which was 70 fewer people than the year before.
The remainder were J-category essential employees (2%) and those that had been in the Island less than five years (15%).
Employment ‘The agreed policy is to promote local employment, and all the evidence confirms that this objective is being achieved,’ the minister said.
‘New jobs are filled overwhelmingly with locally qualified individuals.
In 2005, 83% of all employees were local, and of the additional jobs created, 96% were for locally qualified persons.
Further, it should be noted that non-local employment reduced by 70 positions in 2005.
‘Essential J-employees accounted for 2% of the working population as at 31 December 2005 and 14% of the growth in the working population in 2005.’
Article posted on 21st July, 2006 - 12.00am
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