Dear Editor – I wish to raise my deep concern about the growing unemployment crisis in Honiara, especially amongst the youth, women and those who migrating from rural areas.
While Honiara is often seen as the center of economic opportunities in the Solomon Islands, the reality for many is quite the opposite.
Each year, hundreds of school leavers and graduates come to Honiara in search of work, only find few job openings and even fewer opportunities for meaningful career development.
Young people are full of potential, yet they are left idle due to a lack of skill training, limited job creation and slow economic growth.
Women, particularly young mothers and single parents, face even greater barriers. Many are willing and capable of working but struggle with issues like lack of childcare, low education levels and discrimination in hiring practices.
Despite, their contributions to both households and their informal economy their effort often go unrecognized and unsupported.
The situation is getting tougher for folks moving from rural areas I other provinces. They come to Honiara hoping for a better life, but end up in overcrowded settlements without the jobs they hoped for.
This keeps the cycle of poverty and frustration going, which can really hurt hoe communities hold together.
It is time the government, private sector, and civil society act with urgency. We need targeted skills development programs for youth and women, micro- financing support for small businesses and job creation projects that include rural communities. Investment needs to reach beyond Honiara and spread into the provinces. This can help ease the movement of people from rural areas to the city.
If we fail to address these issues now, the long-term consequences will be greater inequality, rising crime and a generation of lost potential.
Let us act now for our youth, for our women and for the future of the Solomon Islands.
Kobito, Borderline estate