The head of a regional recruitment firm has suggested that remote work may be largely “untapped” in the Caribbean, as companies across the region continue to embrace it to a lesser extent than those abroad.

CEO of Caribbean Employment Services Inc, Joseph Boll said that while many companies shifted to remote models during the novel coronavirus pandemic, what now exist is a number of Caribbean businesses that have largely returned to “normal”, something businesses in the United States and beyond are fighting with their staff to achieve.

In sharing his observation, he reminded jobseekers that they don’t have to rely only on jobs available in their immediate area, or even those being offered by Caribbean employers.

“In this digital age, Caribbean jobseekers do not have to be limited to just the job openings in their immediate area,” Boll said.

He said that while many Caribbean countries, often having more conservative cultures, have been hesitant to embrace the digital market on a large scale, with remote work the world becomes an oyster for modern day and more digitally savvy jobseekers.

Not the first to encourage Caribbean jobseekers to try their hand at remote work, Boll linked the slow pace of take-up to persistent infrastructure challenges and a general culture which have prevented many jobseekers from launching a remote career from their island homes.

“The important thing is to not be afraid to get started. A lot of people can feel intimidated, or believe that remote jobs are not open to people from the Caribbean. But this is not the case, and many times, once you avail yourself of the opportunities, you will achieve success,” he noted.

He pointed to wide range of resources offered by his organisation that can help Caribbean jobseekers jump-start their remote careers.

Caribbean Employment Services Inc based in Barbados, through its core functions, assist international and national employers to source the best talent from the region and other parts of the world, offering a slew of recruitment and job seeking solutions.

“Our biggest recommendations are that you tailor your resume to show that you are capable of working independently with minimal supervision, and that you are open to opportunities where you may start small but build up a formidable career in the long run,” he said.

According to the findings from a number of global studies, employers that continue to argue against remote work have cited productivity, connectivity, security and client confidentiality concerns among their top issues. Those embracing have, however, highlighted cost savings, increased productivity, improved work-life balance and a wider access to global talents among their top counter arguments.

“As the landscape of work continues to evolve, the decision to embrace remote work long term is no longer just a response to external forces but a strategic choice. Remote work, when embraced as a core business strategy, unlocks new opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and employee well-being,” global marketing and recruitment firm Benchmark outlined in its assessment of the phenomenon.