With unemployment falling significantly and some 156,000 jobs created over the past five years, Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Honorable Vanessa Benn on Friday, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that all citizens have access to meaningful economic opportunities.
She made these remarks during a meeting with representatives of the Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD) and ACE Consulting Group for a briefing on the proposed Industrial Baseline Study and Economic Assessment, which was commissioned by ExxonMobil Guyana earlier this year, and its accompanying national sensitisation programme.
The team included Mr Parmanan Chandranauth, Executive Director of the CLBD; Ms Onecka Newland, the Centre’s Senior Operations and Finance Manager; and Ms Anassa Duncan of ACE Consulting Group.
According to a statement, the study is a comprehensive assessment that concentrates on analyzing the expanding business landscape including the demand, supplier capacity, labour readiness and regional growth across Guyana.
During the meeting, Minister Benn emphasized that the Government of Guyana continues to prioritise job creation and entrepreneurship.
This focus ensures that every working-age Guyanese citizen can thrive as the country continues to rapidly expand.
Notably, Guyana’s labour force grew between 2020 and 2025, while unemployment fell sharply, as the country’s rapidly expanding economy brought more people into the workforce.
The labour force is up 47.8 per cent from the first quarter of 2020, according to figures from the Bureau of Statistics published in the government’s 2026 Mid-Year Report.
Over the same period, the unemployment rate fell to 6.2 per cent from 12.8 per cent, while the labour force participation rate increased to 59.2 per cent from 50.4 per cent.
The next Labour Force Survey is planned for the final quarter of 2026.
Minister Benn also explained that the Cabinet outreaches led by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, along with community engagements by government officials, allow the Government to gather data, shape policy and design programmes based on what is happening on the ground.
She further outlined the continued expansion of the Government’s housing programme.
This includes the social housing programme, which will be rolled out next year, targeting those who are highly vulnerable.
The minister also pointed to Hyde Park (Yarrowkabra) Homestead Project, an initiative conceptualised by President Ali, which provides single mothers with opportunities in shade house agriculture to support income generation, self-reliance and economic empowerment.
The hinterland housing programme will also continue, along with several other projects, she said.
Minister Benn encouraged the team to treat all input received during the study as valuable.
“Any information shared with you is relevant,” she said, while reiterating how that information is utilized is very important.
