The Cabildo of La Gomera has allocated €2.97 million to four editions of the New Employment Opportunities Programme, which has benefited 74 young people. The initiative aims to curb youth emigration and strengthen ties to the island.
The Cabildo of La Gomera has mobilised nearly €2.97 million through four editions of the New Employment Opportunities Programme, an initiative that has allowed 74 young people to gain their first professional experience on the island. The programme, driven by the island institution, is part of a broader strategy to combat youth depopulation and offer job alternatives to recent graduates.
As explained by the president of the Cabildo, Casimiro Curbelo, behind each contract is "a person who starts to carve out their path, a family that sees the possibility of their children not having to leave". The programme has covered profiles linked to the participants' training, ranging from public services to sectors such as tourism or social care.
A commitment to youth retention
The island president emphasised that youth employment must be "central to any island project", and that it is not just about jobs, but about rooting. "That a young person who has been trained can apply their knowledge here, contribute to public services, join the primary sector, tourism, social care...", detailed Curbelo.
The programme has benefited young people from La Gomera who would otherwise have had to emigrate to find work. The initiative includes temporary contracts linked to training, with the aim of allowing participants to gain experience and qualify for stable jobs in the future.
Over €3 million in educational aid
At the same time, the Cabildo has allocated over €3 million to educational policies, benefiting around 2,500 students at all educational stages. The aids include study grants, free textbooks, support for travel, and agreements with public universities. "Employment starts much earlier, in the classrooms," recalled Curbelo.
The president insisted that the continuity between education and employment is key for young people to find "real reasons" to stay on the island. "It is not enough to ask young people to stay; we must give them real reasons to do so," he stated.
The role of SMEs and self-employed individuals
The Cabildo has also focused on small and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed individuals as engines of youth employability. Curbelo pointed out that many young people find their first opportunity in small businesses, shops, or family initiatives. Therefore, he called for "unique fiscal tools, adapted to the island's reality" to help these employers hire and retain young talent.
The initiative is set against a backdrop of concern over talent flight from the islands. According to data from the Cabildo, the young population of La Gomera has decreased in recent years, and programmes like this aim to reverse the trend. In fact, the president warned: "La Gomera cannot afford to lose a prepared generation."
For young people from La Gomera still seeking their first job, the Cabildo reminds that the upcoming editions of the programme will be announced through official channels. Meanwhile, the institution continues to work on new lines of support for youth employment, aiming to consolidate a labour fabric that offers stability and future on the island.
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