Virgin Islands to hold workforce summit on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John from Oct. 6-8

The Office of the Governor, the Virgin Islands Workforce Development Board and the Virgin Islands Department of Labor said on Oct. 1, 2021, that they would hold a territory-wide Workforce Summit from Oct. 6 through Oct. 8 on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John.

The daylong workshops were scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by a Career and Training Job Expo from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The events were set for Oct. 6 at Caribbean Cinema at Sunny Isle on St. Croix, Oct. 7 at Caribbean Cinema at Market Square East on St. Thomas, and Oct. 8 at the Cleone H. Creque Legislative Conference Room on St. John.

According to the announcement, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. was scheduled to open and close each day of the summit. Ron Painter, chief executive of the National Association of Workforce Boards, was listed as keynote speaker. Michael Fazio of Workforce 180 and Asiah Clendinen Gumbs of the Virgin Islands Workforce Development Board were scheduled to emcee, joined by Labor Commissioner Gary Molloy and Workforce Development Board Chairman Michael Carty.

The agenda included sessions on soft skills, hiring and retention, workforce resources for employers, training-provider eligibility, financial literacy, the maritime workforce, workforce and economic development, reentry employment and job-searching. Bryan also was scheduled to moderate a morning breakout session titled "Barriers and Solutions to Filling Virgin Islands Infrastructure Jobs."

The government said the summit was free and open for in-person attendance by vaccinated residents only. It also said residents could attend virtually by livestream.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-v-i-department-of-labor-hosting-territory-wide-workforce-summit-2021/