What’s not to love about the Caribbean?
Blue skies, warm climate, beautiful beaches, exotic flora and fauna coupled with rich culture and friendly people, makes the Caribbean an ideal tourist haven.
But what about work? With recent pandemics, what opportunities exist to find a job in the Caribbean?
How do I find a job in the Caribbean?
- Online searches
Within Caribbean territories online job boards have proven quite popular. These online resources narrow the search for job vacancies according to country, industry, flexibility and employer type.
Companies also post job openings on their own online platforms. Social media profiles and websites are common means by which companies can advertise a vacancy and job seekers can apply, either online or by mail.
Companies who have a regional presence may recruit suitable people from other islands. Scotia Bank, Sagicor, Caribbean Airlines, C&W Communications and Digicel can surely advertise and fill positions this way.
Networking is even more so exceptionally important in this region. Many Caribbean territories are quite small compared to their North and South American neighbours. Therefore, the networking pool is quite dense. There is a strong likelihood of repeatedly interacting and encountering past business contacts, employers or colleagues at interviews as well as corporate and social events.
Therefore, to find a job within the Caribbean, building a lucrative network serves as your references and recommendations to a potential employer who may be looking for a candidate just like you.
- Expatriates
Quite a number of foreign nationals come to the warm shores of the Caribbean to work. For a lot of these expatriates, finding jobs usually comes through business tourism. Multinationals that have a Caribbean presence may move top-performing staff from abroad to the islands to lend their expertise.
Often this expertise comes through CEOs, senior managers, specialists, consultants, ambassadors, government officials, freelancers or sport and entertainment personalities. Foreign nationals who have retired in their home countries and have relocated to the Caribbean to spend retirement may either decide to rejoin the local workforce or find part-time or volunteer work.
Ready to take the next step? Check these jobs in the Caribbean and apply!
What jobs are in demand in the Caribbean?
With recent times, the job market is more focused on essential services. High demand jobs for the contemporary Caribbean job market include:
- Medical/Health related services
Medical professionals, nurses orderlies, caregivers, pharmacists, hospital & health centre support staff
- E-learning services for students at home
Online classroom facilitators, tutors, course lecturers
- Sales/Marketing
Sales representatives, advertising managers, digital marketers, social media managers, customer service professionals, videographers, freelance marketing specialists
- Facilities management
Workspace managers & janitorial custodians, HSSE managers and staff
- Information technology
Network engineers, Helpdesk agents, Online security specialists, computer technicians, Information and research specialists
- Supply chain & logistics
Warehousing and logistics managers and support staff. Inventory controllers & supervisors.
- Food & retail
Transport & delivery staff, merchandisers
- Data analysts, virtual assistants, crisis management counselors,
- Accounting & finance professionals
Tips to get a job in the Caribbean
- Relate to the local culture
The entire Caribbean is not English speaking. If you are pursuing opportunities across islands, you must ensure no language barriers exist. Even the territories that do speak English would have different accents and pronunciations. There may also be local dialect words included with everyday speech.
Therefore, when job hunting across the Caribbean, ensure that you understand and appreciate local culture. You can research or enlist additional coaching to ensure you can communicate effectively with locals in another Caribbean country.
- Find out where you want to work
A lot of these territories have been traditionally agriculture and tourism dependent. Finding opportunities outside of that industry may be sparse, depending on the island. Larger islands, typically may have more vacancies across sectors such as energy, entertainment, entrepreneurship, IT and manufacturing.
- Do you have the skills?
You must have a clear understanding of the job you want and the skills you need. In these pandemic times, research is critical to ascertain what type of jobs and skills are available and what the market currently is offering to find an commonality.
- Follow the job market
The current job climate within the Caribbean has persuaded employers to step back and determine who is essential and who can be furloughed or laid off. If you do not fall within the ‘essential’ category, understand that the odds of finding your dream job may be slim.
Who is eligible to work in the Caribbean?
Caribbean nationals are afforded the opportunity to travel between Caribbean islands for the purposes of engaging in legitimate and gainful economic activity. University of the West Indies’ graduates and other accredited institutions can seek employment or establish entrepreneurial ventures across Caribbean states. Skilled workers such as medical professionals, sport & media personalities, entertainers, and teachers can also travel to find employment.
Foreign nationals who have relocated to the Caribbean must satisfy certain criteria and conditions outlined by the local Immigration Division. Companies must show where internal vacancies have been advertised locally before recruiting talent from abroad. Once a foreign national is working within the region, a work permit must be obtained in order to legally work.
Benefits of working in the Caribbean
Apart from being a picturesque paradise, the Caribbean offers several benefits to working for both locals and expatriates.
- Affordable standard of living
The Caribbean has one of the most affordable costs of living in the western hemisphere. Costs such as rent, transportation and those that are not directly applicable to the region, such as internal heating during winter and toll fees, saves money spent on living essentials.
- Business & Investment opportunities
The Caribbean offers various forms of investment and entrepreneurial opportunities across multiple sectors such as real estate, stock exchanges, information technology and entrepreneurship. With appealing tax incentives, diverse cultures and a global brand appeal, there are numerous agencies and networks that link angel and capital investors to lucrative opportunities within the Caribbean.
- Less complicated way of life
The Caribbean work life lacks many of the complexities of large metropolitan areas abroad. With abundant sunshine, smaller geographic areas and simpler transportation systems, common problems such as long commuting times, multiple hour traffic congestions, level of pollution, commuting to work in freezing temperatures and wearing multiple layers of clothing are matters we simply hear others complain about.
- Robust systems & amenities
Within the Caribbean, we have relatively stable economic, social, financial and legal systems compared to our neighbours. In addition, both living and working in the Caribbean offers the beauty of the islands, simplicity of living and a unique proximity to culture, career advancement through regional and even international opportunities.
What should I read next?
- Read our article about Ways to find a job in Trinidad
- Read our article about Training for jobs opportunities in Trinidad
- Read our article about Find a job that fits your professional goals in Trinidad
- Read our article about How to find part time jobs in Trinidad
