07 July 2021
An independent group of Jersey's largest employers has published a report setting out their recommendations for ensuring that the Island's workforce is prepared with the skills needed for the jobs market as it will be in 2035.
The Jersey Employer Group (JEG) has concluded that 27% of all current jobs will radically change or be rendered obsolete in the next 15 years. To address the change, JEG are recommending a two-phased approach, which is set out in their Strategic Workforce Plan (SWP).
The SWP recommends that critical skills are bought in from other jurisdictions in the short-term, and education and partnerships are used to develop skills and nurture Jersey talent in the longer-term. JEG encourages Government to factor the recommendations into immigration and education policies.
David Bailey, co-chair of the Jersey Employer Group said: "We have a unique opportunity through the Jersey Employer Group to work together across all industries to future-proof Jersey's workforce.
"Our Strategic Workforce Plan provides an excellent foundation, and our workstreams provide the actions needed to implement its short and longer-term recommendations. We want to ensure that Jersey as a workplace offers the right career pathways and opportunities for current and future employees based on employer needs, and our group provides an ideal forum or 'the voice of the employer' to collaborate and implement change."
JEG was set up in late 2019 as a forum where the delivery of a positive workplace culture across Jersey's public service could become collaborative with other Island employers. JEG's objectives are to help shape Jersey's workforce by sharing good practice, creating better workforce connections, and developing Jersey-based talent.
The Strategic Workforce Plan, which is JEG's first published document, also sets out the workstreams which JEG will undertake to develop Jersey-based talent:
- creating coaching and mentoring and talent programmes across organisations and sectors
- supporting the development of diversity and inclusion in leadership
- developing an early career/school engagement strategy
The Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré said: "While JEG sits outside government, and is independent, we share the vision of putting the development of a skilled and capable Jersey workforce at the heart of the Island's economic prosperity, while wishing to focus on the development of on-Island talent. I welcome the work of the Jersey Employer Group (JEG), and the SWP valuable contribution to this debate, which has been supported by the Council of Ministers.
"It's in all Islanders' interests for our working population to have the skills needed for the jobs market, and Government, education and private sector employers should work collaboratively towards that goal. JEG's report highlights the need for a strong coalition and partnership working across all economic sectors, and the essential role Government in this. We look forward to working with the Jersey Employer Group and other employer bodies in this endeavour, which is more important than ever as Jersey moves forward in its economic recovery from the pandemic."
The Government of Jersey's Team Jersey provides the administrative support and direction for the Jersey Employer Group, which includes representatives from sectors including construction, financial and professional services, health, retail, public sector, States-owned organisations, and hospitality.
JEG was founded with the objectives of:
- sharing good practice and create better workforce connections
- closing the key capability gaps and develop the skills required for the future workforce
- ensuring consistent approach across the industry sectors and the Island more broadly
- identifying issues and prompt future-focussed discussions on transformation
- identifying capabilities to deliver these strategies
- ensuring a collaborative approach among employers, education and governmental bodies
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