Dear Editor,

I would like to start by saying that I am 19 years old, and I have been searching for a job for almost two years. I have submitted more than 20 job applications, both through email and in person, and I have not received a single reply or phone call.

I have also attended the hotel job fair twice, yet not one hotel has called to follow up. I have even sent applications to many more hotels, but there has been no follow-up, not even an automated response.

I have been searching and applying for jobs through Facebook groups, and still nothing. And I am not the only one. I have seen other young people like myself in the same situation, and it honestly breaks my heart.

I keep seeing job advertisements, but they require applicants to be a certain age or have specific degrees and years of experience. Even in the hotel industry, what happened to training new workers?

Nobody wants to give young people a chance, but they are so quick to say, “Young people don’t want to work.”

How can we get jobs when nobody is willing to hire us? How are we supposed to face the world when it is already rejecting us before we can even get a foot in the door?

Gaston Browne, I am speaking directly to you, if you ever see this.

You have spent weeks and money trying to cater to the King, Queen and other heads of government. Now I am begging you, as an Antiguan born and raised, when will you start catering to us Antiguans and actually helping the young people?

It is honestly frustrating. The job market is horrible right now, not just in Antigua and Barbuda but around the world. We need change.

Thank you for your time.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: LETTER: Frustrated 19-Year-Old Antiguan Speaks Out After Nearly Two Years of Job Hunting.