Home-based Internet businesses have been tapped as a creative, non-traditional option with sure-fire prospects.

Health care, engineering and education are among strong job sectors that should remain stable in 2009, two major business leaders predict.

However, Edward Chin-Mook, president of the Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ), has warned that despite positive trends, no sector was immune to the possibility of job losses in the wake of a global recession which has not yet bottomed out.

"Persons who thought they were in safe jobs will have to wake up," he stated.

Chin-Mook further said that the fallout in the world economy would force the Jamaican workforce to become more qualified in various disciplines, to give them a competitive edge in a shrinking global village.

He said jobs that are low-paying and involve simple tasks are generally safer, but stiff competition in those sectors would squeeze out inefficiency and cream off employees with an ultra-productive work ethic and other positive attitudes.

Explore health care

President of the Jamaica Employers' Federation, Wayne Chen, said specialist professions were safer bets in the private sector. Jamaicans are being urged to explore the health-care industry, with specialisations such as medicine, physiotherapy and radiotherapy, for stable positions.

The health-care industry has been among few sectors in the United States which have experienced job growth despite shock waves from the economic slowdown there. In November alone, there were nearly 20,000 hires in an economy which has seen more than two million persons losing jobs.

The education sector, particularly private schools, is also a good option, Chen said. Other industries with strong potential are information technology and the commercial sector, particularly top management positions in banks and other financial entities.

Top billing jobs

Chen, who heads the Super Plus chain of supermarkets and chairs several private- and public-sector boards, said engineers, specifically electrical and construction engineers, had top billing. Expansion in the telecommunications industry had also facilitated a growing demand for technicians, Chen told The Gleaner.

However, Chin-Mook said increased interconnectivity in cyberspace had significantly reduced companies' reliance on in-house personnel, as many functions were outsourceable to overseas technicians, who caused less damage to businesses' bottom line.

"There is a system in place that the telecommunications companies use to address technical problems when they arise. All they have to do is make a phone call and the problem is resolved from overseas. Only problems that require a (physical) box, they will use a technician," the SBAJ boss cautioned.

With many traditional jobs and industries likely to see a fall-off in 2009, Chin-Mook said sectors which operated below the radar of media and national attention had potential for growth.

Pays at the end

"People need to look towards the film industry. Although it's expensive to get in, it pays off in the end," explained Chin-Mook, who is also the chief executive of Global Ink.

The SBAJ president said the Internet had opened up myriad opportunities for small-scale enterprises or single traders to set up virtual shopfronts to offer products and services across near-limitless marketing boundaries, which required moderate start-up capitalisation and operational financing.

"Persons will be able to stay in any section of the country they are living and sell their products," he said. "All they have to do is put it on the Internet and it will sell anywhere in the world."

In the meantime, general manager at Choices Career Information and Advice, Angela deFreitas, advises persons against allowing layoffs to get them depressed and confused while coming to terms with coping without getting a salary.

She suggests that job hunters distract themselves by going back to school or getting involved in esteem-building activities.

"Try to improve your qualifications and at the same time display a positive attitude while you spend time on job searches," deFreitas said.

nadisha.hunter@gleanerjm.com

( L - R ) Chin-Mook, Chen