GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Christopher Wever has commended the National Employment Services Center, NESC, for the organization of the National Job Fair 2026, saying the event demonstrated the value of bringing employers and job seekers together in one location and creating direct opportunities for recruitment.
Wever attended the fair at the Aleeze Convention Center on Thursday, where more than 40 companies and organizations participated in the third National Job Fair. The event was structured to give job seekers direct access to employers who were actively recruiting and conducting interviews.
“I commend NESC for doing this,” Wever said, adding that the feedback he received from both participating companies and persons who attended was positive.
He said one of the most encouraging aspects of the event was hearing directly from employers that applicants had already been hired during the fair.
“I spoke to a few people that actually hired people on the spot today already,” Wever said.
According to the MP, some employers were prepared to make additional hires if suitable candidates presented themselves.
For Wever, that demonstrates why job seekers should take these opportunities seriously and come prepared when recruitment events are organized.
He said residents cannot complain about the lack of jobs on one hand and then fail to make use of opportunities when employers are gathered specifically to recruit.
Wever encouraged job seekers to continue using NESC services beyond the fair. The agency’s job portal is intended to connect residents with vacancies year-round, while employers can use the platform to reach local candidates.
Wever also used the event to raise what he sees as a broader opportunity for St. Maarten, the further development of the career fair for high school students.
He said young people should have greater exposure to employers and professions before they decide what they want to study after secondary school.
Such an event, he suggested, could be coordinated with the Ministry of Education and Government’s study-financing initiatives so students can better understand what qualifications are required for careers available in St. Maarten.
The objective, according to Wever, would be to help students connect their educational choices with actual workforce needs.
He pointed to organizations such as the Police Force as one example where students could be shown early what type of study, training and qualifications would be required to enter the profession.
Wever said the same approach could be applied across other sectors.
Employers open to scholarships
The MP said conversations with participating employers also revealed interest in supporting students before they enter the workforce.
According to Wever, some businesses indicated that they would be willing to consider scholarships for students pursuing fields where skilled workers are needed, particularly where there is a clear understanding that the student intends to return to St. Maarten after completing studies.
He believes this creates an opportunity to build stronger connections between employers, students, Government study financing and the future needs of the economy.
Rather than waiting until businesses are struggling to fill vacancies, Wever said the country can begin preparing young people earlier for careers that employers know they will need.
That approach could help students make more informed decisions while also giving businesses an opportunity to invest in future local talent.
Stronger connection between education and employment
Wever said the job fair demonstrated what can happen when employers and potential employees are placed in direct contact.
He believes the next step should be to strengthen that connection even earlier by helping students understand the range of careers available to them and the education required to pursue those professions.
Government has also been expanding NESC’s role beyond the job fair itself. The 2026 edition introduced the new National Job Portal, which is designed to give employers a permanent platform to advertise vacancies and give job seekers continued access to employment opportunities and career resources.
For Wever, initiatives of this nature should produce a clearer pathway from education to employment.
He said the objective should be to ensure that young people know what opportunities exist, what qualifications employers are seeking and where scholarships or training support may be available.
The MP described Thursday’s event as well organized and said the reports of employers hiring people on the spot showed that the National Job Fair can produce immediate results while also opening a broader conversation about how St. Maarten prepares its future workforce.
