Voters express concerns over 'brain drain'

Voters in part of the island have expressed concerns about a lack of further education and employment opportunities for young people in Jersey.

The BBC spoke to residents in St John, St Lawrence and Trinity as part of a roadshow visiting all districts before the election in June.

According to the Government of Jersey, the population of people aged 20-29 has been decreasing over the past five years, down from 12,080 in 2017 to 10,990 in 2023.

Carl Parslow, a lawyer who lives in St John, said to keep young talent "there needs to be a vision".

Parslow said a solution to the problem could be providing more further and higher education opportunities for young people in Jersey.

"I think we need to start considering education in Jersey, both higher and further education, as a strategic economic requirement because it drives our young people and it drives them into various different fields which hopefully will drive the local economy."

Highlands College offer further and higher education courses for people in Jersey.

Parslow added: "I'm now a lawyer and I say thank you to Highlands for providing me with courses that allowed me to achieve that."

"There are about 1,800 young people that go away every year. I mean that is our talent leaving the island...

"Sixty per cent of them don't come back and what are we doing? We're importing talent instead. That doesn't work."

The BBC also spoke to 19-year-old Toby Cahill Le Brocq who wanted to stay in Jersey but was not sure it would be possible.

Cahill Le Brocq said: "I would like to stay full-time. It's home. There are the beaches, there's nature. It's good, I must say. But with the way that things are going right now, it's not looking like a promising future living on the island."

He said the cost of rent and food was going up more than wages and "that's definitely concerning matter".

Cahill Le Brocq also said that Jersey does not have the range of career opportunities young people need.

"The only two major sectors are retail and finance. If you're into music or media or anything else, then people are most likely to move to the UK or somewhere else where they offer that."

However, Mary Tunney who runs Mad Mary's cafe in Trinity said she did not agree there were not enough opportunities for young people in Jersey.

Tunney said: "When they say there are no opportunities - look around, look at Highlands College, look at all the courses they do and the education system - of course there is opportunities there if you get up and you want to do it."

As a separate concern, Tunney said it was hard for her to find staff for her cafe who really wanted to work.

She said those on permits were "more eager".

"I've had employees who don't want to work or come to work and think its a holiday.

"They have to get on with it like everybody else."

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