“Perfect storm” causing recruitment and skills challenges

Tuesday 26 July 2022

The Chair of IoD Guernsey has called for greater collaboration between business and government in delivering skills and training opportunities to alleviate local recruitment challenges.

Wendy Dorey said a “perfect storm” of recent events has led to the recruitment and skills crisis including Brexit, inflation and the pandemic.

“The ripple effect of Britain's exit from the EU and the impact of covid lockdowns resulted in Guernsey losing members of its workforce, particularly in certain sectors. Now, with the rising cost of living and housing shortage, drawing those people back to Guernsey has become more challenging than ever,” she claimed. 

“Guernsey has a reputation as an expensive place to live compared to some parts of the UK. This is partly due to higher property prices and limited housing stock, affecting first-time buyers, family homes and the rental market.  

“The cost of living is rising worldwide; however, we need to find a suitable solution appropriate for the island's economy and housing development complexities – as well as focus on solutions relevant to the different sectors affected.”

Pictured: Wendy Dorey argues many of the skills required by the local workforce are not easily obtained on the island.

Ms Dorey added that, whilst Guernsey has not experienced the level of resignations seen in the UK following the pandemic, off-island recruitment is essential to the island’s economy.

“As a result, we are seeing the fall out locally in junior and mid-level job roles, which could have long-term implications for our finance and professional services sectors, which are an essential component of our economic success,” she said. 

“Guernsey is belatedly waking up to the reality of a skills crunch. Not all skills can be acquired on the island - and it's unlikely this will ever be fully possible - so we need to identify more effective methods to develop workers' skills in Guernsey's essential sectors.

“There is a need for short-term action balanced with long-term planning to ensure we have the right mix of skills for the future and are creating a community and environment that is attractive to young people.”

She called for cooperation between the public and private sectors to ensure Guernsey can weather the crisis whilst being a desirable, affordable and prosperous place to live. 

Pictured (top): Wendy Dorey, Chair of IoD Guernsey.