One of the realities that we have to face in Bermuda is that we don't have enough young people who wish to get into certain professions. No matter how many courses the Government offers in high school, no matter how many courses at the Bermuda College, we simply do not have enough young people who wish to get into skilled trades such as culinary arts, baking, carpentry, electrical, masonry, HVAC or plumbing.

To be clear, we do have young people taking up these professions. The numeric challenge is we do not have enough. Go to any high school graduation and you will hear for yourselves which paths our young persons intend on taking. Very few declare any interest in the technical world.

Hence the large number of persons here on work permits doing those very same jobs we should be doing.

Classism versus optimism

To be frank, we need to take an honest look at ourselves as a community. Ask ourselves what have been the long-term ramifications of classing those who work as skilled trades persons as “less than” others who work in offices. Perhaps, just perhaps, then we will see how this has contributed to our young persons’ lack of desire to be in the trades.

Media outlets should take equal time to feature those making strides in all professions versus only highlighting those in the international business or legal sectors. The country and society as a whole has to continuously encourage our young persons, and even not so young persons, that these skilled trades are of equal importance to our continued development. No country can function without these technicians. God forbid our air conditioning breaks down during the summer.

Unless and until we grow the number of Bermudians willing to learn these professions, there will be an ever-increasing number of employers applying for work permits in these areas.

• Christopher Famous is the Progressive Labour Party MP for Devonshire East