KINGSTON, Jamaica — State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Delano Seiveright, is urging university students to rethink traditional career paths and move with greater urgency, warning that the pace of global change is leaving outdated approaches in the dust.

Addressing students at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus at a forum hosted by the Mona Campus Youth League, with the involvement of the UWI Guild of Students, last Thursday evening, Seiveright said many young Jamaicans are still underestimating how rapidly the world is evolving.

“The world has changed, and it’s changing faster than at any point in history,” he said. “We’ve moved from change taking centuries to decades, to years, to months. If you wait too long to act, the opportunity may already be gone.”

Pointing to the rapid evolution of major technologies— from the printing press in the 1400s, to electricity, the radio, the TV and the automobile, the cellular phone, fax machines, the internet, social media and now artificial intelligence (AI)— Seiveright noted that today’s generation must be far more adaptable than those before them.

“You cannot rely on static skills or a fixed plan anymore,” he added. “The people who win now are the ones who move quickly, learn continuously and adjust.”

Seiveright also challenged students to expand their outlook beyond local boundaries, noting that Jamaica’s population of approximately 2.8 million sits within a much larger global market.

“The Caribbean is about 45 million people, the US and Canada over 390 million, and Latin America over 660 million,” he said. “So when you limit yourself to your immediate environment, you are limiting your potential.”

The state minister noted that digital platforms and remote work have made it easier than ever for Jamaicans to access international markets and earn foreign exchange without leaving the island.

A key focus of the presentation was the growing economic value of Jamaica’s creative industries, which Seiveright described as one of the country’s most underutilised areas for growth.

“From music to events to digital content, there is serious money moving through the creative economy,” he said, pointing to major events such as Reggae Sumfest, Dream Weekend, Best Weekend Ever, Sandz and Zimi.

He highlighted several Jamaican entrepreneurs, including Andrew Bellamy, Romeich Major and Kamal Bankay, as examples of individuals who have built successful ventures within the space.

“Both Bellamy and Bankay came through UWI Mona and started from modest beginnings,” Seiveright noted. “They understood that culture is not just expression, it is business.”

Seiveright cautioned against over-reliance on traditional employment, arguing that the “9-to-5 alone is no longer sufficient” in many cases.

“With rising costs, global competition and rapid technological change, young people have to think about multiple income streams,” he said. “A career is important, but you should also be building something on the side.”

He also underscored the importance of networking and emotional intelligence, noting that many opportunities arise through relationships rather than formal channels.

Turning to artificial intelligence, Seiveright highlighted the scale of global investment, noting that AI spending is projected to reach approximately US$2.5 trillion in 2026, more than 100 times Jamaica’s gross domestic product (GDP).

“This is not a trend. It is one of the biggest economic shifts we will see in our lifetime,” he said. “Those who learn to use these tools will expand their reach. Those who don’t will fall behind.”

Seiveright urged students to take decisive action and avoid overthinking their next steps.

“The opportunities are already here — in agriculture, in culture, in services, in technology,” he said. “The question is whether you are prepared to move.”

“Nobody is coming to figure it out for you. Start where you are, use what you have, think global, and move,” Seiveright added.