If you are interested in using raw numbers to determine your career direction, the most recent Ministry of Labour and Social Security hot jobs survey can help.

Generally, the hottest career tracks in Jamaica since May 2002 are in the following areas:

Job Category Areas
Management Employee Relations, Human Resource, Marketing, Information Systems, Administrative
Education and Training Teacher, Lecturer, Librarian, Principal
Sales and Marketing Sales Representative, Merchandise
Front Desk/Administration Reservation clerk, Receptionist, Customer Service Representative
Food Services Waiter, Waitress, Cooks, Chef, Bartenders
Accounting Accountants, Accounting Officer, Accounting Clerk, Audit Clerk

An examination of the data for the period May 2002 to 31 December 2008 by category showed job openings listed for Teachers, Directors and Sales Representatives as the most frequently advertised vacancies. (See Table 2). The hottest jobs were mainly observed in education, sales, administration and hospitality.



The positions most frequently advertised were for teachers (8,272), managers (7,946), sales representatives (5,746), and household workers (4,397). Teachers were required to have a bachelor degree as well as diploma from a teacher training college. The total number of vacancies for lecturers over the period stood at 2,104. Most employers sought persons who had completed postgraduate certification such as master degree, doctorate, or a post graduate diploma. In some cases they were also required to have a diploma from a teacher training college.



The qualifications for managers were more varied and included degrees in finance, business, management studies, accounts and human resource management, as well as engineering and marketing depending on the organization. Vacancies for Directors expected candidates to be equipped with a master degree especially Master in Business Administration (MBA).

Some sales representative positions required a minimum of four CXC subjects inclusive of Mathematics and English Language; while others required a minimum of a diploma in sales or marketing. Household workers needed the least training as they were only required to be literate. Persons for receptionist positions were required to have a minimum of four CXC subjects.



Table 2 – Top 10 Hottest Jobs: 2002 to 2008

Occupation Number of Vacancies




Teacher; Lecturer; Instructor; Professor; Educator
10,762

Manager; Director
9,335

Sales/ Marketing Representative & Associate
6,619

Household Worker; Office Attendant
4,811

Receptionist; Front Desk Clerk; Telephone Operator; Customer/ Client Services Representative
4,631

Bartender; Waiter & Maitre ‘D’
3,652

Driver; Dispatcher and Messenger
3,133

Cook/ Chef; Executive/ Pastry/ Sous Chef; Baker
2,561

Accountant; Accounting Officer; Auditor
2,449

Cashier; Toll Collector; Teller
1,949


Source: The Gleaner and Observer newspapers, May 1,2002 to December 31, 2008

Vacancies By Occupational Groups

Examination of the data by major occupational group showed that most of the advertisements from 1 May 2002 to 31 December 2008 were for persons who fall in the "Professionals, Senior Officials and Technicians" category (See Table 3). The occupations in this category which were most requested were Teacher, Lecturer, Accountant, Engineer, Marketing/Sales/Brand Manager and Principal. Next was "Service Workers, Shop and Market Sales Workers", which included top occupations such as Sales Representatives, Bartender and Cook/Chef. The clerical group was the third highest category. The most requested occupations from this group were Receptionist, Customer or Client Services Representative, Cashier and Typist/Secretary. The Elementary Occupation group was the fourth highest and the job featuring prominently in this group was domestic helper.



Table 3: Top Hot Jobs By Occupational Group May 1, 2002 to December 31, 2008

Occupational Group/ Hot Jobs
Count

Professionals, Senior Officials & Technicians
41,651

Teachers
8,272

Lecturers
2,104

Accountant/Accounting Officer
1,813

Engineers
1,060

Marketing/Sales/Brand Manager
1,018

Principal
980

Clerks
12,487

Receptionist/Customer/Client

Service Representative
2,749

Cashier
1,879

Typist/Secretary
1,297

Service, (Shop and Markets Sales) Workers
18,831

Sales Representative/Personnel
5,746

Bartender/Barmaid
2,257

Cook/Chef
1,894

Craft and Related Trade Workers
3,502

Technician
1,039

Mechanic
652

Tailor/Dressmaker
451

Plant and Machine Operators & Assemblers
4,069

Driver/Dispatcher/Delivery Rider
3,133

Machine/Drill Operator
255

Elementary Occupations
10,283

Domestic Helper
4,397

Janitor/Handyman
1,689

Casual Worker
1,580

TOTAL VACANCIES
90,960


Source: The Gleaner and Observer Newspapers, May 2002 to December 31, 2008



"Less Demanded But Popular Occupations"

While demand was more frequent for the above-mentioned occupations, there we other occupations for which demand was relatively high. The top five in this category were:

1. Administrative Manager

2. Medical Officer/Doctor

3. Financial Controller

4. Merchandise/Warehouse Manager

5. Telephone Operator