Workforce development

CNMI residents, are you aware that more than 60 percent of our generated revenue comes from employment?
I think if we work together with our investors, I believe we can develop the needed workforce. Below are some comments and opinion regarding our present workforce issues.

A consumer looking for a job in the job fair with very little skills might need a job with training with a reasonable salary that supports the amount of dependents he/she has.

If he is low income he probably needs some or all of the following—transportation, housing, caregiver, training with financial aide assistance program, and Nutrition Assistance Program.

Here in CNMI most local residents who are staying here don’t have much skills and probably didn’t attend college after high school due to financial issues, lack of needs, and some prefer trade education.

Because of this I would ask employers to make a job offer with training. Put out a vacancy announcement stating how many positions you’re offering with the list of training you’re providing, and the list of college education that you are looking for and see a guarantee that all positions will be filled.

Plus, the Northern Marianas College, Northern Marianas Technical Institute, and Employment Services would make training and education available for employers. I mean this publicity will provide NMC, the trade institute, and Applicant and Employment Services with much needed information they are looking for.

Also, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service would also recognize the much-needed CW that is not available here and probably with this publicity, they might be able to listen to our economic cry for the much needed workforce development not available here by 2019.

Publicity with negative outcome and negative comments can affect employers and employees ability to find their needs.

The other important information that everyone is looking for is the salary for the position. The CNMI government needs to put out a minimum wage that is not competitive to that of private employer. What the government is doing now is really affecting workforce development. Our government needs to make sure that the salary of a secretary, administrative assistant, and all other positions be the same with that on the private sector. Make qualification requirements equal to that in the private employer.

If we do this, you can guarantee that by 2019 CNMI workforce development would increase by 60 percent or more. So members of the Legislature, governor, and everyone, for the sake of our economy, please do your part.

What do you think of this?

Winnie M. Atalig
San Jose, Tinian