Youth Advocate Urges Action on Unemployment Crisis in Guyana
By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
Georgetown, Guyana – Despite Guyana’s booming oil and gas sector and continued investment in agriculture, youth unemployment remains a critical concern, according to youth advocate Cleon Harley, who says politicians are failing to move beyond symbolic gestures.
Harley, who has been actively involved in youth advocacy for years, stated that young people continue to be sidelined, especially outside of election periods.
“What we have seen over time is that young people are often used as tokens,” Harley said. “You might create a construct for youth involvement, but that’s all—it’s not meaningful engagement.”
He is urging political leaders to adopt a solution-oriented approach, saying manifestos alone cannot address the deep-rooted challenges faced by young people. One of the key solutions Harley proposed is the development of a national needs assessment plan to ensure youth voices are heard and their challenges properly addressed.
Harley called for a greater focus on entrepreneurship and labor market alignment, noting that many educated young people continue to struggle to find opportunities in both the public and private sectors.
“Young people are getting qualified, but there isn’t space for them. We need to create an environment for startups and match education with market needs,” he asserted.
He emphasized the importance of identifying in-demand sectors and future job trends to ensure that youth training programs lead to actual employment opportunities.
“In the next 3 to 5 years, we must ensure that those completing their education have a clear pathway to employment.”
Harley’s remarks come as youth unemployment in Guyana continues to hover at concerning levels, particularly in hinterland and rural regions, where economic opportunities are limited.
He concluded by calling for genuine policy reforms, not political performances, to ensure Guyana’s youth can contribute meaningfully to national development.
