Housing and Works Minister Maria Browne says unemployment in St. John’s Rural East has dropped sharply over the past several years, crediting job placement efforts and education programmes for the decline.

Browne said the constituency’s unemployment rate fell from about 37% in 2018 to roughly 7% today, describing the shift as one of the most significant achievements during her tenure.

“When I was first elected in 2018, our unemployment rate was at 37%… and I saw that as something that needed to be tackled right away,” she said.

She said her constituency office established a system to help residents find jobs, including connecting individuals with employers and assisting with placements — an effort she said has continued consistently since she took office.

“That has never stopped… and we have been able to bring that number down from 37% down to 7%,” Browne said.

Alongside employment support, Browne pointed to education initiatives as a key driver of change, particularly the “Second Chance” programme, which she said has helped residents who previously struggled academically to re-enter the education system.

She said the programme, now based in the constituency, has enabled participants to improve their qualifications and move on to higher education, including the University of the West Indies.

“Now we have people who probably would not have passed… and are now matriculating to UWI because of that Second Chance programme,” Browne said.

Browne also highlighted the distribution of more than 100 scholarships for vocational training and tertiary education, describing them as part of a broader effort to link education with employment opportunities.

“These forms of empowerment have been able to make some serious headway in the community and change many lives,” she said.

While acknowledging that some residents are still seeking work, Browne said efforts will continue to expand job placement support and training opportunities if she is returned to office in the April 30 general election.