Dear Editor,

“Go to school, get a good education, and you’ll get a good job.” This promise, deeply ingrained in Jamaican culture, has guided generations of young people through years of rigorous study, late-night cramming, and financial sacrifice.

Yet, for many degree holders today, this once-reliable roadmap to success has become a cruel deception. Instead of securing stable, well-paying jobs, graduates find themselves underemployed, working long hours for salaries that barely cover basic living expenses. In an economy that boasts record-low unemployment, why are so many young professionals still struggling? Why must they juggle multiple side hustles just to survive? The answer lies in a broken system that has failed to deliver on its promise.

Jamaica’s economic indicators paint an interesting paradox. As of October 2024, the national unemployment rate hit a record low of 3.5 per cent, a remarkable achievement compared to previous years. However, beneath this statistic lies a troubling reality — youth unemployment remains stubbornly high at 11.0 per cent and underemployment continues to plague thousands of graduates. A staggering 22,900 Jamaicans, or 1.6 per cent of the workforce, are classified as underemployed, meaning they are working fewer hours than they need or are stuck in jobs that do not utilise their qualifications. The harsh truth is that many degree holders are not unemployed but rather overeducated and underpaid, forced to turn to side gigs to make ends meet.

One of the primary culprits of this crisis is the glaring disconnect between education and industry needs. Universities equip students with theoretical knowledge, yet many employers demand practical skills and work experience that graduates simply do not have. As a result, degree holders find themselves in a frustrating cycle — unable to secure jobs in their fields due to a lack of experience, yet unable to gain experience because no one will hire them. This misalignment leaves many graduates with no choice but to accept jobs far below their qualifications or outside their chosen fields, leading to widespread underemployment and financial instability.

Compounding this issue is the relentless rise in Jamaica’s cost of living. Rent, transportation, and food prices have skyrocketed, while entry-level salaries have remained largely stagnant. Even those fortunate enough to land full-time jobs find that their earnings are insufficient to cover basic expenses, let alone student loan repayments. The reality is grim. A young professional in Kingston earning an entry-level salary often spends more than half of his/her income on rent alone, leaving little room for savings or financial growth. Side hustles — whether it’s selling products online, doing freelance work, or taking on part-time jobs — are no longer an option; they are a necessity for survival.

The burden is even greater for women in the workforce. The female unemployment rate stands at 4.5 per cent, compared to 2.6 per cent for men, and women make up 60 per cent of the unemployed population. This gender disparity suggests that systemic barriers continue to limit women’s access to stable employment, making financial independence even more difficult to achieve. For many young female graduates, a single job is simply not enough to sustain themselves, pushing them further into the side hustle economy.

Beyond the financial strain, this constant juggling of multiple jobs takes a psychological toll on young professionals. The pressure to perform in a full-time role while managing additional income streams leads to burnout, anxiety, and reduced job satisfaction. Instead of focusing on career development and long-term professional growth, many graduates are stuck in survival mode, prioritising short-term financial stability over long-term aspirations. The emotional exhaustion of working multiple jobs just to afford a basic standard of living is a reality that many young Jamaicans quietly endure.

If we are to fix this crisis, a fundamental shift is needed. First, universities must align their curricula with the evolving demands of the job market, ensuring that graduates possess the practical skills and experience that employers seek. Internship programmes, mentorship opportunities, and industry collaborations should be expanded to bridge the gap between academia and employment. Second, employers must recognise the value of degree holders and offer competitive entry-level salaries that reflect the real cost of living. The days of paying highly qualified graduates less than a liveable wage must end. Additionally, the Government and private sector must work together to diversify the economy, creating more high-paying jobs and reducing dependence on traditional industries.

While entrepreneurship should always be encouraged, it must be a choice, not a survival mechanism for degree holders. The idea that young professionals should immediately start businesses because formal employment fails to pay them adequately is not a solution — it is an indictment of a system that has abandoned its promise. A university degree should open doors to financial stability and professional fulfilment, not a lifetime of hustling just to stay afloat.

Jamaica cannot afford to continue deceiving its young people with the illusion that education alone guarantees success. Until the job market is transformed to offer meaningful, well-paying opportunities for graduates, the side hustle economy will continue to thrive — not as a sign of ambition, but as a symptom of a failing system. It is time to fix it. Our graduates deserve better.

Leroy Fearon

leroyfearon85@gmail.com

Jamaica cannot afford to continue deceiving its young people with the illusion that education alone guarantees success.