Column: Pitcher On Youth Employment & More
[Column written by Jennifer Pitcher]
In November 2024, Bermuda’s Labour Force Survey reported that 3.4% of Bermudians aged 16-24 are unemployed. While that percentage may seem modest, it represents young people who are eager to work and contribute, yet face real barriers – limited access to training, certifications, work experience and clearly defined career pathways.
Bermuda’s Youth Employment Strategy [2022] outlines these challenges: resource gaps, insufficient work experience, career uncertainty, and a disconnect between education and labour-market needs. For some young people, that disconnect feels personal – like standing on the edge of opportunity without a clear way in. At Endeavour, we see both the urgency and opportunity to bridge that gap.
From Classroom to Career
Endeavour was established with a clear purpose: to build confidence and life skills by engaging diverse youth from across Bermuda in hands-on, experiential learning through sailing.
Bermuda’s ocean is both our classroom and a gateway to meaningful careers. On the water, young people learn quickly that responsibility, teamwork and problem-solving are not theoretical concepts – they are practical skills that matter.
Through our Maritime Career Springboard Programme, Bermudian youth aged 16 and older gain practical training, earn industry-recognised certifications, develop technical skills and explore maritime professions firsthand. From marine mechanics to charter operations, to maritime hospitality and ocean conservation, participants discover viable career pathways that are both locally relevant and globally transferable.
The impact is measurable. Participants report feeling more prepared for a maritime career, with improved skills, recognised qualifications and a greater awareness of options and future career pathways.
When young Bermudians are provided with equitable access, structure and support, they succeed.
Starting Early
Workforce readiness does not begin when a young person submits their first job application. It begins with exposure, encouragement, and confidence.
Our five-day STEAM Education through Sailing Programme serves every public, private and home-schooled student aged 11–12, combining science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics with practical sailing experience. Since 2015, we have delivered more than 24,000 hours of hands-on instruction to over 6,000 students across 31 schools.
Students can continue progressing through our Graduate and Assistant Instructor Programmes, which provide clear retention pathways. Youth aged 12-14 build on their technical and personal development, while those aged 15-17 gain leadership experience, coaching skills, and community service opportunities.
The impact is consistent: all Assistant Instructor participants report stronger communication, teamwork and problem-solving abilities. These are often labelled “soft skills”, but in today’s workforce, they are essential competencies and highly valued by employers.
Inclusion as Opportunity
Addressing youth unemployment requires expanding access to opportunities.
Since 2015, Endeavour has engaged more than 8,500 youth aged five to 35. This reach reflects our core belief that young people of all backgrounds and abilities should have access to meaningful learning experiences.
Our No Limits Sailing Programme provides inclusive, experiential learning for public school students aged 5-18 on the autism spectrum. Teachers report improved communication skills, increased confidence and greater engagement among participating students.
When access widens, so does opportunity.
Why This Matters for Bermuda’s Future
Youth workforce development is not simply a social initiative; it is a long-term economic investment.
When young people build job-readiness skills and earn recognised certifications, they are more likely to secure meaningful employment and see a future for themselves here at home. Defined pathways encourage continued education. Exposure to real-world careers builds clarity. These shifts, taken together, strengthen economic mobility and community resilience.
For Bermuda, the long-term benefit is significant: a more competitive workforce, stronger alignment with industry needs and a generation of capable young adults prepared to contribute to our island’s prosperity.
A Collective Responsibility
No single organisation can solve youth unemployment alone. Meaningful progress requires collaboration among industry leaders, government, educators, nonprofits and families.
We need employers willing to offer mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities. We need continued investment in certifications and market-relevant skills training. Experiential learning — learning by doing — must remain part of how we prepare young people for the workforce.
Bermuda is rich in opportunity. Ensuring equitable access to that opportunity is essential.
At Endeavour, we believe every young Bermudian should have the opportunity to discover their strengths, build self-belief and chart a course toward a meaningful career. When we invest in their growth and development, we do more than transform individual lives; we strengthen Bermuda’s social and economic resilience.
Youth unemployment will not resolve itself. Progress will come because we make a deliberate, sustained commitment to building clear pathways from education to employment. Building clear pathways from education to employment is not a short-term initiative — it is an ongoing commitment. And it begins with the choices we make today.
- By Jennifer Pitcher, Executive Director, Endeavour
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