A GROWING number of Jamaicans view higher production, more factories and investments as key elements which the country must use to overcome its economic woes and growing unemployment, according to the latest Gleaner-commissioned poll.
The poll, carried out between September 15 and 24, showed that 61 per cent of participants saw hope for salvation through the opening of more factories.
Conducted by Don Anderson and his team from Market Research Services Ltd., researchers interviewed 1,000 people aged 18 and over in all parishes.
Mr. Anderson, in his analysis, pointed out that "the poor state of the economy has resulted in growing unemployment as a greater number of firms are opting to lay off workers to improve efficiency or guarantee survival. Unemployment has been blamed for a number of national shortcomings, including high crime and violence levels."
Nearly 18 per cent of participants are confident that the country could escape unemployment by attracting more investors while 17.2 per cent posited the establishment of more training centres to increase job skills and capabilities as part of a local prescription to help lift the country out of its economic doldrums.
Participants also suggested the local situation can be improved by having more input into the agricultural sector (4.1 per cent), reducing company taxes (2.6), implementing better education (2.5), investing more in tourism (2.2) and having more input from Government (1.8).
