Commitment to turn ‘Hello2Hired’ turnout into jobs

The Ministry of Caymanian Employment and Immigration (MCEI) welcomed 91 Caymanian jobseekers to its second Hello2Hired recruitment event, held on Monday, 24 August 2026 at the Grand Cayman Marriott.

Designed to create direct connections between Caymanian jobseekers and local employers, the event gave attendees the opportunity to explore vacancies, speak directly with hiring teams and access practical career support in one setting. Twenty-four (24) employers participated, representing opportunities across a range of industries, including hospitality, finance, retail and others.

Hon. Minister for Caymanian Employment and Immigration, Michael Myles, said the improved turnout demonstrated the value of creating accessible opportunities for Caymanians and employers to connect directly.

“This event is about giving Caymanians the opportunity to get in front of employers, have meaningful conversations and better understand the opportunities available to them and what employers are looking for,” Minister Myles said. “Just as importantly, jobseekers can access practical support to strengthen how they present themselves and approach the recruitment process. We want Caymanians to leave these events better informed, better prepared and with stronger connections to employment opportunities.”

MAKING CONNECTIONS

Speaking with the Caymanian Times newspaper, Min. Myles explained: “This is about connecting Caymanians to employment. When we looked at establishing the Hello 2 Hired programme, it was about ensuring that employers came with jobs rather than marketing materials.”

Mr Myles also said that too often, people attend recruitment drives only to leave without any meaningful prospects. What we’ve tried to do differently is ensure that if an employer is here, they actually have vacancies. We’ve coupled that with our database of specifically unemployed people. I’m interested in getting people jobs.”

The Minister for Caymanian Employment also stated: “I am not naive enough to think that every Caymanian wants a job, but for those who do, there should be no reason they cannot find one.”

Noting that the Cayman Islands has more than 37,000 work-permit holders, meaning there are more jobs than eligible Caymanians, he added: “The goal now is to make those opportunities more accessible. You bring employers into a space where all they have to offer is employment.”

Mr Myles said the jobs fair and the interview skills workshop were held simultaneously because many young people do not fully understand the range of opportunities available within particular industries.

Hospitality, for example, extends far beyond housekeeping and food service. The industry also offers positions in human resources, information technology, management and supervision—areas many job seekers may not immediately associate with the sector.

“We have to move on from that. Caymanians are coming into entry-level roles and staying there. Where is the training and retraining? We need to have people climbing the employment ladder,” he said.

MAKING JOBS ‘FAIR’

Mr Myles said he regularly receives calls, emails and text messages from Caymanians reporting discrimination across a range of industries.

“The situation is that the people in middle management are not Caymanians, and there is a tendency towards bias. We are feeling the pinch, and the message is that ‘we are not wanted here.’ If you do get in, the person above you may behave in a way that becomes discriminatory.”

He also explained how organisers hoped each interaction between job seekers and employers would unfold.

“We want real interaction where people understand what the job is,” he said. “Can I see you again? Let’s set up an interview. Here is my résumé. I truly want to work here. I’d like to be part of this company. Can we arrange another interview next week?”

FROM ‘HELLO’ TO ‘HIRED’

Min. Myles feels more recruitment events should follow the Hello-2-Hired model, with participating organisations bringing genuine employment opportunities.

“There is too much talking. We have to hire,” he said.

Mr Myles noted that the Ministry had worked with the new Grand Hyatt development to hire more than 100 Caymanians for the approximately 500 jobs expected to become available. He added that employing Caymanians also allows companies to save substantial amounts in work-permit fees.

However, the Minister cautioned that Caymanian job seekers must also do their part.

“We have to be more organised, dress appropriately and come prepared. If I know I am coming into a place with 10 or 15 companies, I am coming decked out. You have to dress for success,” he said.

“The moment an employer looks across the room, they should know you are here to get a job.”

Mr Myles said Caymanians must take the opportunities being created seriously, stressing that employment is critical to the country’s long-term success.

If Cayman is unable to move more of its people into gainful employment, he warned, the country could face growing welfare costs and eventually be forced to consider some form of taxation.

“Whatever we are earning in work-permit revenue, we are already having to spend that money to look after people who have no pension or life insurance and are unable to thrive in their later years because they have never had gainful employment,” he said.

Meanwhile, endorsing the Hello2Hired concept, Hon. Premier André Ebanks stated: “Events like Hello2Hired show what’s possible when government and employers work toward the same goal. The NCFC government is committed to making sure Caymanians have clear, genuine pathways into job opportunities, and Hello2Hired is exactly the kind of accessible, results-driven initiative we want to keep building on.”

PUTTING THE PLAN TO ACTION

A government statement said Hello2Hired forms part of MCEI’s wider efforts, supported by Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman (WORC), to strengthen employment pathways for Caymanians and improve connections between local talent and employers. The August event marked the second Hello2Hired recruitment event, following the inaugural event in February 2026, which brought together 66 Caymanian jobseekers and 20 employers.

MCEI and WORC say they will continue to build on Hello2Hired and other employment-focused initiatives aimed at helping Caymanians access opportunities, develop their employability and engage directly with the local labour market.

The August event also placed an increased focus on preparing jobseekers for the recruitment process. Representatives from the Cayman Islands Recruitment Association (CIRA) and the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) provided one-on-one guidance in career coaching, interview preparation and résumé writing. Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman’s  (WORC) Employment Services Unit and Labour Market Demand Unit also engaged with employers to strengthen connections, support future Caymanian placements and gain insight into upcoming workforce needs and business growth plans.